Solid history, but the reader must be really interested in the Civil War to fully enjoy this. ( )

1639 R. E. Lee A Biography Volume II, by Douglas Southall Freeman (read 12 June 1981) I was really caught up by this volume. It is very interesting reading, even though not as well written as Bruce Catton's books, and there is some consolation that it spends very little time talking about Union mistakes--because it only tells what Lee knew and learned. This volume ends with the death of Stonewall Jackson in May 1863. Volume III should be better. because the great Confederate victories are over. Chancellorsville is described as the high tide of the Confederacy. It, and the victory at Fredericksburg in late 1862, were great Confederate victories. ( )