Birthday Book: the man who stirs up so many people almost two centuries after his birth

In light of current events and current debates of the subject’s views and record, Henry Bemis is pleased to offer this classic American biography of the Confederate general, born 199 years ago today:

Douglas Southall Freeman, R.E. Lee: A Biography (Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1934-35; reissued, 1962). ISBN 684-10180-7. Pulitzer Prize Winner; still an outstanding work in an age when nobody writes on this scale anymore. Even less appreciated is the gargantuan output and influence of Douglas Southall Freeman, of which the Lee biography is but a part.

Four volumes, hardcover, price clipped dust jackets, very good condition. Octavo, 646 pp (I); 621 pp (II); 569 pp (III); 619 pp (IV). HBB price $50 obo.

A Ph.D. in history at Johns Hopkins, Freeman joined The Richmond Times-Dispatch at 20 and became editor of the Richmond News-Leader at 29. He held the latter post for the next 34 years. During that run he produced an estimated 600,000 words a year of newspaper copy; did two radio commentary programs a day; taught at the Army War College for seven years; commuted- by air, weekly- to New York to teach at the Columbia School of Journalism; made a national reputation as a military analyst in World Wars I and II; and wrote fifteen books.

Among his books were his four-volume R.E. Lee: A Biography (1934-35), which won the Pulitzer Prize and still stands as the authoritative life. He took up the biography of George Washington, publishing the first of seven volumes in 1942. The last, published in 1957 from his notes, won him his second Pulitzer. 

__________________

For more information on ordering, and Henry, please click here.

#RareBooks #HenryBemisBooks #LiteraryBirthdays #DouglasSouthallFreeman #RobertELee #Charlotte