Longstreet: The Confederate General Who Defied the South is a biography that focuses on Longstreet’s military service in the American Civil War, and his political life thereafter. It’s meticulously researched, and the documentation is among the best I’ve seen anywhere. Students, Civil War buffs, and other interested readers won’t want to miss it.

My thanks go to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the invitation to read and review. This book is for sale now.

James Longstreet was one of the most able and respected generals for the Confederacy, serving as General Robert E. Lee’s right hand officer. Lee called him “my old war horse.” However, a disagreement between them about strategy at Gettysburg has made Longstreet a convenient scapegoat for Lost Cause types that accuse him of treachery, of deliberately sabotaging the deadly three day fight, and thereby causing the rebels to lose a key battle. Varon sets the record straight, and then goes on to explain what he did following Lee’s surrender and the Confederacy’s failure.

When I saw the subscript in the title, I wondered whether Varon might be overstating Longstreet’s postwar behavior in order to draw readers. Having read it, I can say that she has not overstated one single thing. This is a fair and balanced account. In essence, Longstreet recognized that, while the Confederate Army fought long and hard, it had in fact lost, and there was no good to be gained from further destruction at a time when reconciliation was more important. He basically said that having lost the war, the best thing for the South to do is recognize that the war is done, and proceed to obey the laws of the United States and rebuild the ruined Southern states.

I was unaware, before reading this biography, how extensively defeated Caucasian Southerners were inclined to sabotage the U.S. government. Guerilla actions were common, along with the passage of local laws that directly conflicted with Federal ones. Acts of terror against African American former slaves, as well as free Black Southerners, were frequent whenever Federal troops or other peacekeepers were not present to see to their safety and their rights. And though I had not realized it, Longstreet hailed from Louisiana, which seems to have had the ugliest resistance of all, with the White League and the Knights of the White Camelia wreaking havoc against Blacks that occupied governmental posts, became too prosperous for the liking of local Whites, or that in any way displeased any White person of any social standing. Longstreet did his best to shut that down; he failed.

Varon discusses the role played by Longstreet’s personal friendship with U.S. Grant, one which predated the war; he was best man at Grant’s wedding to Julia. She suggests that although the friendship was important, Longstreet was also acting on principle.

Varon doesn’t overstate her case, and is measured and fair in her assessment. She points to the occasions when Longstreet folded and cooperated with the local racists in that well-traveled road of U.S. politicians: I have to do this terrible thing in order to get elected, or I can’t do any good for the former slaves or anything else. This habit, both past and present, sets my teeth on edge, but she doesn’t defend it. She also points out that had the Confederacy won the war, Longstreet would have remained a Dixie racist for the rest of his life, more likely than not.

Those looking at the length of this book—over 500 pages—should be aware that about the last twenty-five percent of it is endnotes, with documentation, bibliography, etc. And while it may be more than a general reader that simply enjoys a good biography might appreciate, those interested in the Civil War should get this book and read it.

3.75

The arc of Longstreet’s life from Confederate general to participation and support of an integrated Reconstruction government has always been fascinating to me, so I was excited to see a new book about him. I found Elizabeth Varon’s book to be incredibly well researched, and a good overview of his life specifically his life postwar. That being said, I wish she had extrapolated a bit more, and gone into more detail, based on the fact but beyond the historical record.

Overall, I found this book really interesting, especially in the wake of a lot of the conversations that have been happening around the country and in the last several years. In a time where a lot of the Lost Cause mythology is being interrogated, it’s interesting to go back and see how it was created and who got left out and why. Longstreet in general, and this book in particular, are I think great examples of how history gets written and manipulated over time.

The first I had ever heard of General James Longstreet was when I saw this book on NetGalley [I am often a "title requester" and such was the case here] and was intrigued by it as I had never heard of Longstreet before. Fast-forward a couple of months and I am reading Gods and Generals by Jeff Shaara and *POOF* there he was [I will say I didn't recognize the name at first...I kept going "WHERE have I seen/heard that name before?" LOL. SUCH an old lady moment] and I was even more intrigued by the end of that book [and then by The Killer Angels]. So I went into this book knowing little about the man, but my appetite was whetted and I was ready to do the deep dive.

What a tangled man General Longstreet was. As with all the confederacy, he was a traitor to the very country he lived in, but much like Benedict Arnold, he was much more than that. He did not relish the war, regretted much of it and had great respect and honor for General Grant, no matter that he was fighting against the man. And while he lived with racist ideas, he DID strive to make life better for the former Slaves after the war was over. He changed political parties, believed in Reconstruction and fought for that, even whilst being vilified by everyone around him. And that is why we don't hear about him in history class and that is a real shame. He is the very definition of how a man CAN change and try to right the wrongs of the past.

I am so glad I was able to read this book and learn even more about a time that was one of the most horrific in history [and one we MUST NOT EVER REPEAT]. I know little about the confederate generals and I am glad I am able to read about them now - I think we must know how the "enemy" works to make sure that evil is never repeated and how some saw the evil themselves and did what they could to change the results of their actions.

If you love history, this book is for you - very well done.

Thank you to NetGalley, Elizabeth R. Varon, and Simon and Schuster for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Quick Summary: A biographical resource on an infamous historical figure

My Review: Longstreet: The Confederate General Who Defied the South by Elizabeth Varon was a thoroughly researched, highly captivating book. It detailed the life and actions of a controversial man who was viewed as having shifted between different ideologies during a time of tumult in this country.

About the Book: Who was General James Longstreet? Was he a man of honor, or was he a man of ill repute? Did he stand for the good of the country or for the good of self? Forever immortalized as a traitor, Longstreet remains a person of interest.

My Final Say: Readers who are interested in digging into history or who are intrigued by Civil War and Reconstruction history will appreciate this book.

Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: G

Thank you to the author, to the publisher (Simon & Schuster), and to NetGalley for granting access to this work in exchange for an honest review. The words I have shared are my own. I appreciate the opportunity to read this informative title.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me a free eARC of this book to read in exchange for my review!

As someone who does not gravitate toward Civil War history, I was not overly familiar with the events of Longstreet's life. However, as someone who is a native of southeastern Louisiana and is a current Virginia resident, Longstreet's connection to both places intrigued me enough to read this fascinating and unique biography.

Although it's definitely a lengthy biography, Varon's writing and pace kept my attention throughout.


If you're interested in Civil War and/or Reconstruction history, put this on your list.
Many thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for a digital review copy in exchange for a fair review.

Great biographies need to have two things. First, a balanced view of the subject which avoids painting them as either all hero or all villain. Second, an excellent writer who knows how to be engaging while doing this because let's be honest, being thorough and fair can be boring! Longstreet is an excellent example of a great biography. I was engaged; I learned a lot; and I feel like I finished it with a better understanding of all aspects of James Longstreet.

Longstreet was a Civil War general (for the wrong side). By all accounts, he was exceptional, at least for the first part depending on which side you are on. After the Civil War, Longstreet turned traitor (again!) by becoming a Republican. He had a long career which does not neatly fit into a narrative. Did he become more open minded to Black people? Yes. Did he believe in full blown equality? Eh, not really.

These consistent inconsistencies make Longstreet absolutely fascinating to a nerd like me. He went from general to politician with the expected growing pains. Some of his Confederate compatriots later decided the South lost the war because of him. It all becomes quite messy. This is where author Elizabeth Varon's style and eye for detail is so exceptional. She never lets the narrative slow down while explaining both sides of these arguments. She appreciates Longstreet's evolution but does not make him a better man than he actually is.

If you have any interest in the Civil War or just good biography, then this is a must read.

(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Simon & Schuster.)