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239 reviews for:
Robert E. Lee and Me: A Southerner's Reckoning with the Myth of the Lost Cause
Ty Seidule
4.4 AVERAGE
239 reviews for:
Robert E. Lee and Me: A Southerner's Reckoning with the Myth of the Lost Cause
Ty Seidule
4.4 AVERAGE
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
This book is a wildly earnest look at the Lost Cause myth by a deeply southern, pretty obviously conservative former army officer/historian (I haven't forgotten! It only gets mentioned every other page) whose idea of a good host for a viral video is PragerU.
I found this book to be endearing but limited in it's application of an anti-racist lens. I can hear and vibe with the extreme anger and shame at being sold a pack of absolutely shameless and profit driven lies, then shake my head in frustration when the Mexican-American War is mentioned positively in passing. Not only that, but the genocidal campaigns against native peoples before and during and after the Civil War barely get a mention at all. I don't understand how you can see the undergirding of white supremacy in the context of the Civil War, only to fail to see it in the wars of conquest that America committed against it's poorer and browner neighbors and around the world.
That said-- this is the probably the bridge we need to reach people further in. I also deeply appreciate the vulnerability on display, and also the acknowledgement that the discomfort and pain and growing up on harmful lies is nothing next to the experience of being enslaved and oppressed. A good, honest book that should be bookended by more and wider perspectives.
I found this book to be endearing but limited in it's application of an anti-racist lens. I can hear and vibe with the extreme anger and shame at being sold a pack of absolutely shameless and profit driven lies, then shake my head in frustration when the Mexican-American War is mentioned positively in passing. Not only that, but the genocidal campaigns against native peoples before and during and after the Civil War barely get a mention at all. I don't understand how you can see the undergirding of white supremacy in the context of the Civil War, only to fail to see it in the wars of conquest that America committed against it's poorer and browner neighbors and around the world.
That said-- this is the probably the bridge we need to reach people further in. I also deeply appreciate the vulnerability on display, and also the acknowledgement that the discomfort and pain and growing up on harmful lies is nothing next to the experience of being enslaved and oppressed. A good, honest book that should be bookended by more and wider perspectives.
This is a great book and one that definitely needs to be read by anyone that doesn’t really understand the problem with Robert E. Lee and the confederate monuments still standing in the US today. It’s like if Germany stood up a bunch of monuments to Hitler after WWII - that would be ridiculous and so too is the South’s love of their confederate past. It’s disgustingly similar to the issues we see in recent times with the insurrection on Jan 6th. So many parallels. The reason I’m giving 3 stars instead of 4 is that I found it repetitive, a better editor was needed here but overall a recommended book.
I realized I accidentally posted an update (unable to edit) instead of starting a review, so I've restarted here.
Enjoying so far, will try to update with some notes a la Riq Hölle
- Seidule argues that Gone With the Wind (both the books and movie) may have had a greater impact on current US public perceptions of the Civil War than the war itself.
- I enjoyed the section on US Army forts named for Confederate generals and the investigation into why treasonous officers with poor to barely mediocre military talents received recognition.
- Great story of how African-American cadets at West Point forced Nixon to give up his desire for a Confederate memorial on campus.
- Related to the above point of recognition for Confederates, Seidule shows that the erection of statues and monuments to Confederates (many of them a century after the Civil War ended) was almost always a reaction to civil rights movements, not the reconciliation of the divided nation as is often claimed.
- Seidule’s final assessment of Lee is an overdue and justified reckoning. Lee was not pressured into joining by family or peers, most of whom stayed loyal to the United States. He betrayed his oath and his nation in order to defend the reprehensible institution of slavery. And his reputation as a postbellum advocate for reunification should be forever marred by his continued arguments against rights for Black citizens.
Overall, this is a fantastic book. Seidule’s decision, on advice of counsel - his wife, to blend personal memoir with historical account is precisely what makes his argument so compelling. His stories provoke discomfort and unease, but his aim is to educate, not condemn, his readers, some of whom may share his background. There is much more to his tale than what I can include in this review so I wholeheartedly recommend you read it yourself to see just how valuable his reflections are as America comes to term with its racist past.
Enjoying so far, will try to update with some notes a la Riq Hölle
- Seidule argues that Gone With the Wind (both the books and movie) may have had a greater impact on current US public perceptions of the Civil War than the war itself.
- I enjoyed the section on US Army forts named for Confederate generals and the investigation into why treasonous officers with poor to barely mediocre military talents received recognition.
- Great story of how African-American cadets at West Point forced Nixon to give up his desire for a Confederate memorial on campus.
- Related to the above point of recognition for Confederates, Seidule shows that the erection of statues and monuments to Confederates (many of them a century after the Civil War ended) was almost always a reaction to civil rights movements, not the reconciliation of the divided nation as is often claimed.
- Seidule’s final assessment of Lee is an overdue and justified reckoning. Lee was not pressured into joining by family or peers, most of whom stayed loyal to the United States. He betrayed his oath and his nation in order to defend the reprehensible institution of slavery. And his reputation as a postbellum advocate for reunification should be forever marred by his continued arguments against rights for Black citizens.
Overall, this is a fantastic book. Seidule’s decision, on advice of counsel - his wife, to blend personal memoir with historical account is precisely what makes his argument so compelling. His stories provoke discomfort and unease, but his aim is to educate, not condemn, his readers, some of whom may share his background. There is much more to his tale than what I can include in this review so I wholeheartedly recommend you read it yourself to see just how valuable his reflections are as America comes to term with its racist past.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Dr. Seidule creates a thorough analysis and debunking of Lost Cause myths. He also analyzes his hometown of Alexandria, VA (Lee’s hometown, too) and shows what a dreadful influence they had on his own upbringing. As much as I appreciated the analysis, it goes on long after the point is made. This would have made a better shorter piece like a brilliant lecture; however, the persistence of these myths is why his analysis was so complete.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
“History is a set of lies agreed upon” -Napoleon Bonaparte
Without a doubt the most eye opening nonfiction book I’ve ever encountered. As an amateur American history buff my perspective on the confederacy and it’s legacy in the United States has been altered forever. I’m a white man who has lived his entire life in the north, I was aware of the inaccuracy of lost cause ideology and the reality that slavery was the cause of the Civil War, but I’m ashamed to say I still let the lost cause myth pervade my understanding of history. Growing up watching movies like Gettysburg, visiting the battlefield as a teen, and reading Civil War books as an adult, I would see the confederates as opponents but not necessarily enemies. Leaders like Lee I would accept as honorable opponents that were reluctant to fight the Union. Wrong in their beliefs certainly but equal in regard with men like Grant and Sherman. I’m here to tell you Ty Seidule set me straight. An author that’s not some political pundit or a newscaster with a 30 second opinion, but rather a man who has lived his life in the south, honorably served our nation’s armed forces for decades, and is a better expert on Civil War history than I could ever hope to be. Someone whose experiences, research, and conclusions I could easily respect. Someone who knows and deserves to be heard.
The lost cause myth is nothing more than a lie. Men like Robert E Lee were traitors that chose to disregard their oaths to the US military and fight to maintain the evils of slavery. It’s so strange how I’ve NEVER had these obvious facts spelled out in such a straightforward way before. I cannot recall a single documentary, history class, book, or film that portrays men like Lee, Pierre Beauregard, or George Pickett in such a complete light like this book did. Names of men historically honored and respected by many historians (and even the US military) that fought for slavery, committed treason and, in Pickett’s case, war crimes. I used to be conflicted on the issue of removing confederate statues and monuments on the country because I felt it was destroying history. It angered me to learn the truth of why most of the monuments were built: to perpetuate lies about why the civil war was fought and to resist desegregation efforts throughout the 20th century. With example after example the author highlights how the south won the narrative of the civil war and made so many people and organizations across the country, including myself, buy into the false history they sold the nation. Tear down all the confederate monuments. They only serve to hide the true history and the evils of slavery.
Language is so powerful, and I appreciated how Ty Seidule opts to use difference language to better illustrate the realities behind the civil war. Slave labor farm instead of the more idyllic “plantation.” His refusal to use the term “union army” when talking about the military history was inspired as well. Union and confederate gives the two sides a sense of equality when one side was actively against the United States Army and killed thousands of it’s soldiers. I’m going to follow his example in this regard when studying Civil War battles from now on.
Ultimately I’m thankful I happened to stumble upon an interview with the author recently on television, because it’s lead to a new understanding of my nation’s history and helped me overcome my own ignorance. It’s not easy to admit it was there to begin with, but accepting where you’ve been is the only way to be able to know where you’re going.
Without a doubt the most eye opening nonfiction book I’ve ever encountered. As an amateur American history buff my perspective on the confederacy and it’s legacy in the United States has been altered forever. I’m a white man who has lived his entire life in the north, I was aware of the inaccuracy of lost cause ideology and the reality that slavery was the cause of the Civil War, but I’m ashamed to say I still let the lost cause myth pervade my understanding of history. Growing up watching movies like Gettysburg, visiting the battlefield as a teen, and reading Civil War books as an adult, I would see the confederates as opponents but not necessarily enemies. Leaders like Lee I would accept as honorable opponents that were reluctant to fight the Union. Wrong in their beliefs certainly but equal in regard with men like Grant and Sherman. I’m here to tell you Ty Seidule set me straight. An author that’s not some political pundit or a newscaster with a 30 second opinion, but rather a man who has lived his life in the south, honorably served our nation’s armed forces for decades, and is a better expert on Civil War history than I could ever hope to be. Someone whose experiences, research, and conclusions I could easily respect. Someone who knows and deserves to be heard.
The lost cause myth is nothing more than a lie. Men like Robert E Lee were traitors that chose to disregard their oaths to the US military and fight to maintain the evils of slavery. It’s so strange how I’ve NEVER had these obvious facts spelled out in such a straightforward way before. I cannot recall a single documentary, history class, book, or film that portrays men like Lee, Pierre Beauregard, or George Pickett in such a complete light like this book did. Names of men historically honored and respected by many historians (and even the US military) that fought for slavery, committed treason and, in Pickett’s case, war crimes. I used to be conflicted on the issue of removing confederate statues and monuments on the country because I felt it was destroying history. It angered me to learn the truth of why most of the monuments were built: to perpetuate lies about why the civil war was fought and to resist desegregation efforts throughout the 20th century. With example after example the author highlights how the south won the narrative of the civil war and made so many people and organizations across the country, including myself, buy into the false history they sold the nation. Tear down all the confederate monuments. They only serve to hide the true history and the evils of slavery.
Language is so powerful, and I appreciated how Ty Seidule opts to use difference language to better illustrate the realities behind the civil war. Slave labor farm instead of the more idyllic “plantation.” His refusal to use the term “union army” when talking about the military history was inspired as well. Union and confederate gives the two sides a sense of equality when one side was actively against the United States Army and killed thousands of it’s soldiers. I’m going to follow his example in this regard when studying Civil War battles from now on.
Ultimately I’m thankful I happened to stumble upon an interview with the author recently on television, because it’s lead to a new understanding of my nation’s history and helped me overcome my own ignorance. It’s not easy to admit it was there to begin with, but accepting where you’ve been is the only way to be able to know where you’re going.