"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.
