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4+ opere 795 membri 8 recensioni 1 preferito

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Comprende il nome: Charles Royster

Opere di Charles Royster

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The Revolutionary War Memoirs Of General Henry Lee (1998) — Introduzione, alcune edizioni16 copie

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A very good book in respect to the person in refrence. What a bad outline though. The book had no time line, jumping from 1795 to the 1800s. At times I had no idea what was going on.
 
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kaballerau | 2 altre recensioni | Sep 18, 2020 |
I started this book expecting to learn some fascinating information about the founding fathers and their business dealings, but I could slog through much more than the first 100 pages of the book. Maybe the book got much much better later on but "so many books, so little time!" syndrome just made me finally give it up as a lost cause. Maybe some day I will pick it up and try starting in the middle to see if it is any better.
 
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highlander6022 | Mar 16, 2016 |
Interesting book. Not written in a typical biographical form. Not chronological or based on broad themes. This is strictly a look at Light-Horse Harry Lee's Revolutionary War experience and how it informed his later political outlook, his vision for the future expansion of the United States, and more interestingly how it helps explain his later monetary situation.

Royster basically argues Lee's adherence to the Federalist cause grew out of his abhorrence of the violence and disorder that were part of his war experience. His unit, Lee's Legion witnessed the unusually brutal type warfare that went on between loyalists and rebels. Because of this he developed a healthy skepticism for the ability of the populace to control their basest instincts. And his experience with civilians more interested in lining their own pockets than contributing to the effort of those working to secure their independence, convinced him the people needed strong guidance from a powerful central government led by those he viewed as "born" for the job. A category he placed himself in.

It also caused him to take a very dim view of anyone who would advocate splitting the union. He was appalled at the actions of those involved in the "Whiskey Rebellion," an action he led an army to suppress. He is possibly the most forceful in this period arguing the union was "perpetual" and that no state had a right to split from it. This led to two ironies; first was his argument that the constitution was a compact among "the people" rather than the states, ironic given his distrust of "the peoples" ability to govern themselves, and second, that his son Robert E. Lee would end up leading such a rebellion.

His war experience also led him to have an expansive view of the American future, including westward settlement, road and canal construction and the prosperity that would flow from it, which in many ways presaged Henry Clay's "American System". This, according to Royster, led to Lee's profligate spending which eventually landed him in debtors prison.

Overall the book does a very good and persuasive job of describing Lee's political and social views as they were shaped by the Revolution. His contention that Lee's irresponsible financial investments were also the result of this are less convincing. Definitely worth a read if the era is of interest to you. Well written.
… (altro)
 
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mybucketlistofbooks | 2 altre recensioni | Jan 10, 2015 |
A dual biography of two efficient warriors. Evenly balanced to demonstrate that the War was a process all by itself, perhaps outside the politics involved. I don't really think so, as both men did wrack up victories, Sherman in the long run successful. Royster doesn't deal very effectively with Jackson's occasional time-outs, where he would go into a light coma, as he did at the start of the Peninsula fighting. His inaction that day was probably not simply fatigue...there were other instances... someone should go into that...
Sherman, was excitable, and a less skilled leader, but gives the impression, even in his own memoirs, of being "On the Job", rather than enjoying a mystical experience.
… (altro)
 
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DinadansFriend | 2 altre recensioni | Feb 24, 2014 |

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4
Opere correlate
2
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795
Popolarità
#32,058
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½ 3.4
Recensioni
8
ISBN
18
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