"Nagel's research is impeccable, and the historical value great."--AudioFile
The descendants of Richard and Anne Lee have occupied a preeminent place in American history. They were among the first families of Virginia. Two were signers of the Declaration of Independence, several others distinguished themselves during the Revolutionary War, and one, Robert E. Lee, remains the most widely known. In The Lees of Virginia, Paul Nagel chronicles seven generations of Lees, from the family founder Richard to General Robert E. Lee, covering over two hundred years of American history. We meet the dreamers and the nonconformists, the controversial and tempestuous personalities as well as the disgracers of the family name. Then of course we meet the son who was the family's redeeming figure, Robert E. Lee, a brilliant military tactician whose ruling motto was self-denial and who saw God's hand in all things. In these and numerous other portraits, Paul Nagel discloses how, from 1640 to 1870, a family spirit united the Lees, making them a force in Virginian and American affairs.
