Examines the life of General Robert E. Lee and the previous writings about him.

Preface -- The mythic Lee -- Lee and the peculiar institution -- Lee secedes -- General Lee -- The magnanimous adversary -- The price of honor -- Lee after the war -- The Lee tradition and Civil War history -- Appendix A: Lee's letter of January 11, 1865, concerning the institution of slavery -- Appendix B: Lee's letter of February 25, 1868, concerning his resignation and the Virginia commission -- Appendix C: An army commander's authority to surrender -- Notes -- Bibliography of works cited -- Index.