A Life of Robert E. Lee

John Esten Cooke was a contemporary of Robert E. Lee. He was born in Virginia, and his writing career included works done mostly about the history of Virginia from 1800 to 1865. The book is an in-depth biography that covers many facets of Lee's life - both public and private - in a style that is entertaining as well as informative. It includes details about his military campaigns which are interesting because they were written by someone who saw them firsthand as a staff officer for General J.E.B Stuart, the commander in charge of General Lee's cavalry.

Cooke portrays Lee in such a way that the reader gets to know him as if they were actually friends when in fact Cooke's relationship to Lee was never mentioned until he died. Most of his literary output focused on the stories and legends surrounding Robert E. Lee and George Washington.

Lee's lineage is traced back to the earliest settlers in Virginia, which gives the reader an insight into his family background and upbringing. His parents were considered aristocratic members of Virginia society, and "Light Horse Harry" was one of Lee's ancestors who gained notoriety during the Revolutionary War. Cooke cites several examples throughout the book where he felt that Robert E. Lee exhibited good moral character.