Lee: The Last Years Book

A vivid portrait of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's brief post-Civil War life that cuts a sympathetic tone without indulging in Lost Cause mythology (except on the subject of prisoner exchanges). It's fascinating to read about Lee's surprisingly progressive reign as President of Washington College and the culture of devotion surrounding the man in the years following his surrender at Appomattox -- a devotion that would take several wrong turns in the years following his death. There are countless books about the American Civil War that expound on Lee's military genius but if you want to get a clearer sense of his character and legacy, I think reading Flood's book after Jonathan Horn's more recent The Man Who Would Not Be Washington: Robert E. Lee's Civil War and His Decision That Changed American History is a great way to go.