Longstreet

The Confederate General Who Defied the South

By: Elizabeth Varon

Narrated by: Fred Sanders

Winner, American Battlefield Trust Prize for History
Winner, Library of Virginia Literary Award for Nonfiction
Finalist, Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Biography

A “compelling portrait” (Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize­–winning author) of the controversial Confederate general who later embraced Reconstruction and became an outcast in the South.

It was the most remarkable political about-face in American history. During the Civil War, General James Longstreet fought tenaciously for the Confederacy. He was alongside Lee at Gettysburg (and counseled him not to order the ill-fated attacks on entrenched Union forces there). He won a major Confederate victory at Chickamauga and was seriously wounded during a later battle.

After the war, Longstreet moved to New Orleans, where he dramatically changed course. He supported Black voting and joined the newly elected, integrated postwar government in Louisiana. When white supremacists took up arms to oust that government, Longstreet, leading the interracial state militia, did battle against former Confederates. His defiance ignited a firestorm of controversy, as white Southerners branded him a race traitor and blamed him retroactively for the South’s defeat in the Civil War.

Although he was one of the highest-ranking Confederate generals, Longstreet has never been commemorated with statues or other memorials in the South because of his postwar actions in rejecting the Lost Cause mythology and urging racial reconciliation. He is being discovered in the new age of racial reckoning as “one of the most enduringly relevant voices in American history” (The Wall Street Journal). This is the first authoritative biography in decades and the first that “brilliantly creates the wider context for Longstreet’s career” (The New York Times).

©2023 Elizabeth Varon (P)2023 Simon & Schuster Audio

Longstreet, Ahead of His Time

James Longstreet was an outstanding patriot his entire life. His post war career moved in the direction all the South should have moved — accepted defeat, worked with Reconstruction and rejected white supremacist terrorism to suppress blacks. America would have been better today if we had.

A complete look at the life of a remarkable soldier and patriot

Clear, concise articulation. Superb organization. Highly readable prose. Deserves to be placed among the most honored works of American history.

Confederate general going against the white leagues

Not your normal confederate general. Pro reconstruction it made him a target. To this day they seem to be coming after his records and fabricating a history to control the white southern narrative. Eye opening.

An excellent biography!

Ms. Varon’s biography reflects her thorough and diligent research of the historic record and of the extant literature on Longstreet.

Detailed, but not enough that it slows it down.

Longstreet got a raw deal. Great book that gives someone a second chance that deserves one.

Evan's Review

This is second book I've read on Longstreet this year. This book is the latest which the American Battlefield Association rated it the best of the year. This book changed my mine on the General alot of what he believed in he was dump on by the Generals who wrote and believed in the Lost Cause. He fought hard once the war was over it was over. I strongly recommend the book.

Great account of Longstreet's life

While his service to the CSA is discussed, the author goes into great deal on how the General reconciled himself to the US government and his subsequent service to the Nation.

Longstreet - Fascinating Insight

Really enjoys this biographical examination of James Longstreet by Elizabeth Varon. She details Longstreet’s early life, his rise in the Confederate ranks to his realization for abolitionist and pro-inclusionary policies and movements.

Super interesting read and would highly recommend!

Good story that is little known

The book details, sometimes in excruciating detail, Longstreet's conversion from slave owner and son of the confederacy to a more progressive person. There was a lot to learn about his life and his change of heart. Much of the book details the writings of those who wished to support his reconstruction stand and acceptance of the Union's victory and those of the Old South, who wished to show him as a fraud and traitor to the Lost Cause. The author give both versions with a tendency to give Longstreet the benefit of the doubt. He mostly avoids conjecturing on the motivations of his actions.

Standing Taller Out of Marble than Within

This is a fair and insightful look at the life of one of America's great men. This book shows the courage of the man. The author shows how history will have him standing taller than any of his CSA veteran contemporaries due to that courage, both during and after the war. Honest and even blunt at times it was a joy to listen to and subsequently read. Being no, "Marble Man" was a greatly poignant theme.