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Douglas Southall Freeman Kindle Edition
"David Johnson's even-handed biography of Douglas Southall Freeman exactly limns an extraordinary man. The Doc, as we newsmen knew him, would be pleased."--James J. Kilpatrick
"I picked up this book in the early evening, and it was 2:30 A.M. before I reluctantly laid it aside. That's no exaggeration. Johnson not only brings to life his subject but also the times and the place." --Charley Reese
"Just as Boswell eventually found an exemplary biographer in Frederick Pottle so has Dr. Freeman found one in David Johnson." --Dr. Richard Mullen, Contemporary Review
Douglas Southall Freeman (1886-1953) remains one of the greatest historians of the Civil War. His monumental biographies, including Lee's Lieutenants and the Pulitzer Prize-winning R. E. Lee, combined intellectual fervor with meticulous research and a graceful prose style. He received a second, posthumous Pulitzer Prize for his six-volume study of George Washington, still the definitive work on the first president. Freeman's literary accomplishments are all the more remarkable considering that he was also editor of the Richmond News Leader from 1915 to 1949 and made twice-daily radio news broadcasts.
Freeman's influence was not confined to Virginia or the South, nor was his expertise limited to the Civil War. During World War I, Pres. Woodrow Wilson read Freeman's daily reports about the conflict in Europe. Freeman also acted as friend and advisor to world leaders like Winston Churchill and Dwight Eisenhower.
Until now, no biography of this important figure has existed. With Douglas Southall Freeman, first-time author David E. Johnson brings the man and his achievements to light.
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherPelican Publishing
- Publication dateApril 30, 2002
- File size38672 KB
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Editorial Reviews
From the Inside Flap
Born in 1886, the son of a Confederate veteran, Douglas Southall Freeman remains one of the greatest historians of the Civil War. His monumental biographies, including Lee's Lieutenants and the Pulitzer Prize-winning R. E. Lee, continue to be popular and valuable reference books for anyone studying that period.
Freeman's prodigious intellectual energies were not limited to Civil War history. He received a second, posthumous Pulitzer Prize for his six-volume study of George Washington. By employing a strict personal schedule--often rising at 2:30 a.m.--Freeman managed to produce such momentous historical works while also editing a daily newspaper and making twice-daily radio news broadcasts.
Though a proud and loyal Virginian, Freeman and his influence spread far beyond his native city of Richmond. During Freeman's tenure as editor of the Richmond News Leader from 1915 to 1949, world leaders, like Winston Churchill and Dwight Eisenhower, sought his advice. Throughout World War I, Pres. Woodrow Wilson read Freeman's daily reports about the conflict in Europe.
Until now, no biography of this important and influential figure has existed.
Undertaken with the blessing of the Freeman family, this biography represents years of exhaustive research. The author was allowed access to Freeman's copious papers--over 244 boxes in the Library of Congress alone. David Johnson also conducted interviews with many of Freeman's surviving relatives, especially his eldest daughter, Mary Tyler McClenahan, and coworkers, including nationally syndicated columnist James Kilpatrick. The resulting study brings to life the many achievements and diverse talents of Douglas Southall Freeman.
David E. Johnson serves as senior counsel to the attorney general of Virginia. He was graduated from the College of William and Mary and the T. C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond. He lives with his wife, Holly, and their three children in Midlothian, Virginia.
For information about more books from Pelican's extensive list of Civil War and other historical titles, please visit www.pelicanpub.com
From the Back Cover
"David Johnson's even-handed biography of Douglas Southall Freeman exactly limns an extraordinary man. The Doc, as we newsmen knew him, would be pleased."
--James J. Kilpatrick
Everyone interested in American history, especially the Civil War years, owes an enormous debt to Douglas Southall Freeman (1886-1953). His acclaimed biographies, including Lee's Lieutenants and the Pulitzer Prize-winning R. E. Lee, are still widely read and enjoyed. Freeman was awarded another Pulitzer for George Washington, and those six volumes remain the definitive work on the first president. Such literary accomplishments would be enough for many writers, but Freeman researched and wrote his books while simultaneously editing a daily newspaper, the Richmond News Leader, from 1915 to 1949 and broadcasting the news twice a day on WRNL Radio.
Freeman's influence was not confined to Virginia or the South, nor was his expertise limited to studying the past. During World War I, Pres. Woodrow Wilson read Freeman's daily reports about the conflict in Europe. Freeman also acted as friend and advisor to world leaders like Winston Churchill and Dwight Eisenhower. Time Magazine honored him with a cover story and the reporters from Life tried in vain to keep up with his schedule.
At last, David E. Johnson has produced the first book about this legendary figure and his numerous achievements. Comprehensive in scope and exhaustively researched, Douglas Southall Freeman stands as a biography worthy of its subject.
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Product details
- ASIN : B097CKTQL5
- Publisher : Pelican Publishing (April 30, 2002)
- Publication date : April 30, 2002
- Language : English
- File size : 38672 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 472 pages
- Page numbers source ISBN : 1589800214
- Best Sellers Rank: #2,640,394 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #1,647 in Biographies of Journalists
- #4,425 in Historical U.S. Biographies
- #5,803 in Journalist Biographies
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- Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2017Hagiography? Maybe. But a fine job and an engrossing read. I literally sailed through page after page, a la Freeman, and was never bored. I've read all 4 volumes of Lee and 3 of Lee's Lieutenants and I'm now inspired to tackle the 7 of Washington.
- Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2020I liked how the information was presented in a clear and concise manner, but felt that the book overall was to worshipful. The author relied to heavily on his own opinions about Freeman.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2017I love it
- Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2014Interseting book! Well worth reading...
- Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2017This is a fine biography of one of the best biographers in history. This was not only a fantastic story with all the detail one could want about this disciplined historian, it was inspiringly written. New respect now for this memorable personality and historian. I have read few books of its type so quickly.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2004The author grabs the reader's attention at the very beginning of the book when describing Freeman's daily schedule (typically from 2:30 am - 8:30 pm), a schedule that would tire the typical person after only a few days.
Johnson reveals Freeman's interesting background as the son of a Confederate soldier whose interest in writing about history was conceived at a gathering of Confederate veterans at the Battle of the Crater in Petersburg, Virginia years after the Civil War ended. The author includes the excellent relationships Freeman enjoyed with his family (with the exception of his son), newspaper associates, academic peers, and other areas of his interesting life. These revelations personify the definition of a true Southern gentleman! I might add too - Freeman was also a vocal and determined opponent of racism.
I was particularly inspired by the author's description of Freeman's extremely disciplined (though not necessarily always rigid) life. While Freeman had a fulfilling and extremely busy life and was often away from his family, he did manage to spend time with them when possible.
An excellent and highly enjoyable read of the eminent biographer of Robert E. Lee and George Washington. Highly recommended!
- Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2011Johnson, a lawyer by training, wrote this book with the enthusiastic support of Freeman's eldest daughter; and although it's not a hagiography, Johnson is clearly sympathetic to the Pulitzer-prizewinning biographer of Robert E. Lee and George Washington. Johnson has done a fine job of research, and his writing is, at its worst, workmanlike.
Nevertheless, the author might have quickened the pace with no loss of understanding if he had cut many of the quotations and reduced the book's length by say, a fourth. Freeman's workaholic writing habits are both astonishing and a bit scary, but his political positions, overseas trips, and friendships with important people are fairly humdrum, and do not require the space that Johnson has given them.
One aspect of Freeman's life might have been more deeply explored: his religion. There is a seeming conflict between the devout Baptist and long-time Sunday school teacher who maintained a personal chapel, and the man who confessed near the life of his life that he did not believe in immortality. (337)
- Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2002David Johnson has done us all a great favor by finally writing a biography of the most amazing "Doc" Freeman. The son of a Confederate soldier, Douglas Southall Freeman's life is a study in self-discipline and perseverance. Freeman was a man who crammed 4 careers into one life - Pulitzer (One for the biography of General Lee and one post-humously for George Washington) winning author, newspaper editor, teacher and broadcaster. Ever since learning of Freeman many years ago, I'd wondered why no biography had ever been written of him. Freeman was a man that was faithful to his calling, to serving his fellow man and to serving his God. The book should be in every history lover's library. ~ Richard G. Williams, Jr., editor of "The Maxims of Robert E. Lee" to be released in November.