Bush, credit grant with influencing their own writing. Grant, the 18th president of the united states, written by american historian and biographer ron chernow. Grants real name was hiram ulysses grant, but it was entered incorrectly as ulysses s. The twovolume set was published by mark twain shortly after grant. Ron chernow has written a magisterial, but eminently readable, 959page account of the life of ulysses s. The volume was an enormously popular hit upon publication by mark twain, no less, and today personal memoirs of u. Grant finished writing his personal memoirs shortly before his death in 1885. Chernow asserts that both grants command of the overland campaign and his presidency have been seen in. Grant, including his original illustrations and maps.
Josiah bunting iii has written what the new york times calls a vivid, enjoyable and well written book about one of our most enigmatic historic giants, ulysses s. The first recorded claim of longstreet as grants best man dates back to a 1905 book entitled recollections of a confederate staff officer, written posthumously by gilbert moxley sorrel, a brigadier general who was on longstreets staff for most of the civil war. He reminded twain that the military history of ulysses s. Grant is an autobiography from the 18th president of the united states and was published by mark twain shortly after grant s death in 1885. A truly remarkable book that is possibly unequalled. And john russell youngs book, around the world with general grant, published in 1879, had been a complete flop. Grant, the union military genius who won the civil war, and subsequently the twotime president who championed the freedom of the former slave population of the south through his policy of. White delineates grants virtues better than any author before. Bankrupt and ashamed in 1880 grant lost the republican party s nomination for a third term as president. Famous for his military acumen and for his part in saving the union during the american civil war, ulysses s. Grant also remains known for his twovolume memoirs, considered among the greatest military memoirs ever written. Ferdinand ward, one of the principals, used grants name and notoriety to convince people to invest with the firm.
Finally, the best place to start a study of grant can be found in the annotated edition of the personal memoirs of ulysses s. Ferdinand ward, one of the principals, used grant s name and notoriety to. Grant is justly celebrated as the author of one of the finest military autobiographies ever written, yet many readers of his personal memoirs are unaware that during his army years grant wrote hundreds of intimate and revealing letters to his wife, julia dent grant. Ulysses s grant is one of the most important figures to have held the powerful title the president of the united states. His memoirs were written in an attempt to take care of his family after his passing, which he did very well. Grant born hiram ulysses grant was an american soldier, politician, and international statesman, who served as the eighteenth president of the united states from 18691877. Grants book is clear evidence of the strength of his affections, the clearness and force of his intellect, and the invincible determination of purpose triumphing over death. Whites more concise yet comparably measured grant study, which arrived at similar conclusions.
Grants other writings, however, have not received the same acclaim, even though they show the same literary skill. His father was strict and had definite ideas about many things, including grants education. Ulysses simpson grant born hiram ulysses grant was generalinchief of the union army from 1864 to 1869 during the american civil war and the 18th president of the united states from 1869 to 1877. May 08, 2009 the autobiography of general ulysses s grant book. Arthur moreys narration is so well suited to the material that time flew as i listened to the book and i found myself looking forward to listening to more the next day. By the end, readers will see how fortunate the nation was that grant went into the worldto save the union, to lead it and, on his deathbed, to write one of the finest memoirs in all of american letters. It is typical of the man that he struggled on and finished the book even though. Acclaimed by readers as diverse as mark twain, matthew arnold, gertrude. Grant possessed something that he did not have before. No 55 personal memoirs by ulysses s grant 1885 the guardian. Read an electronic edition of ulysses grant s famous personal memoirs, a 19thcentury bestseller.
A major new biography of the civil war general and american president, by the author of the new york times bestseller a. When grant was a teenager, his father announced that hed applied to west point on grants behalf and that grant would be attending college there. Grant wrote his personal memoirs to secure their future, and in doing so won for himself a unique place in american letters. Grant was a successful military general and the eighteenth president of the united states. Grant has 150 books on goodreads with 26297 ratings. This book contains the complete memoirs of the revered united states general and president, ulysses s. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading personal memoirs of ulysses s. His appointments to office were uneven in quality but sometimes refreshing. Grant was writing at a time when the men and places relating to the war remained fresh in the minds of the american public. Grant was the first fourstar general in the history of the united states army and the only president between andrew jackson and woodrow wilson to serve eight consecutive years in the white house. Grant 18221885 was the best known union general of the civil war and a former president of the united states when he learned that he had terminal cancer in the mid1880s. Bob conners nifty novel the last circle of ulysses grant. Grant died of throat cancer in 1885, probably as a result of smoking several cigars a day for much of his life.
I bought it last fall at our chronicle book fair, and im writing now at long last to tell you its a really good, really informative read. The dramatic story of one of america s greatest and most misunderstood military leaders and presidents, this is a major new interpretation of ulysses s. Grant is the eighteenth book in the american presidents series a. In ron chernows grant, an american giants makeover. Ulysses s grant grant, ulysses s used books, rare books and new books. Wister took on the book at the urging of his friend m.
Brings to the reader all the rich and crucial history of ulysses s. Marszalek, giles distinguished professor emeritus of history and executive director of the ulysses s. Wellresearched and well written, this book is a must read for scholars and others interested in gaining accurate insight about a major american leader. Grant was writing at a time when the men and places relating to the war remained fresh in. Parker, a seneca indian who had served with him as a staff officer, commissioner of indian. In volume i, we learn of grants early life and education, his entry into the west point military academy, and what influenced his views on life and the situation of the united states as a. April 27, 1822 july 23, 1885 was an american soldier and politician who served as the 18th president of the united states from 1869 to 1877. American ulysses is so well written that in spite of all i had previously read about grant and his campaigns my interest never flagged and i found it difficult to stop listening.
Grant, original name hiram ulysses grant, born april 27, 1822, point pleasant, ohio, u. As president, he brought stability to the country after years of war and upheaval. The twovolume set was published by mark twain shortly after grant s death. Ulysses is a modernist novel by irish writer james joyce. Battling terminal throat cancer, grant raced to complete his account of the civil war. Stricken by cancer as his family faced financial ruin, ulysses s.
Grant is yet another book like last years american ulysses, by ronald c. This is the first complete annotated edition of grants memoirs, fully. Grant, the 18th president of the united states, focused mainly on his military career during the mexicanamerican war and the american civil war. Grant entered the white house on march 4, 1869, politically inexperienced and, at age 46, the youngest man theretofore elected president. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
Grant, written by his wartime assistant, adam badeau, had sold poorly. The dramatic story of one of americas greatest and most misunderstood military leaders and presidents, this is a major new interpretation of ulysses s. All the action takes place in and around dublin on a single day june 16, 1904. As general in chief, grant revolutionized modern warfare. The son of an appalachian ohio tanner, grant entered the united states military academy at age 17. While rubbing some tarnish off the idol, bunting follows grants career from superb horseman to professional soldier to twoterm president of the united states. The modern library civil war bookshelf 5book bundle. Grant, a union general during the civil war, served two terms as president, from 1869 to 1877. Out of the army, out of office, and out of favorthat was his life now. George henry david professor of history at princeton university, is the author of the. Grant, the 18th president of the united states, focused mainly on his military career during the mexicanamerican war and the american civil war, and completed as he was dying of throat cancer in 1885. The book is deeply researched, but it introduces its scholarship with a light touch that. The stylistically dense and exhilarating novel is generally regarded as a masterpiece and is constructed as a parallel to homers odyssey. What drove ulysses grant to write about the civil war.
Grant is an autobiography from the 18th president of the united states and was published by mark twain shortly after grants death in 1885. In 1869, at age 46, grant became the youngest president in u. My journalist friend bob conner has written his first novel, the last circle of ulysses grant, about the life and last days of ulysses s. Books were scarce in the western reserve during his youth, but he read. As a result, this important book is not only full of original insights into grants presidency, but also for that of the eras larger political culture. He was the 18 th resident of the white house and before his political career. Indeed, some of chernows thunder was stolen by last octobers american ulysses, ronald c. President both volumes, with illustrations and maps ulysses s. There has been a surge in new books about ulysses s. Grant had already been swindled by a fraudulent business deal, leaving him basically penniless. The story of americas first antihero ended as it began, in poverty.
Grant, the union military genius who won the civil war, and subsequently the twotime president who championed the freedom of the former slave population of the south through his policy of reconstruction. Chernow asserts that both grant s command of the overland campaign and his presidency have been seen in an undeservedly negative light. I am unaware of any other wellwritten memoir by a top general. Grant s personal memoirs of is an autobiography by ulysses s. Before his presidency, grant led the union army as commanding general of the united states army in winning the american civil war. A graduate of the prestigious west point military academy, grant served in both the mexicanamerican war 18461848 and the american civil war 18611865, in which he was appointed commander of the union army. Grant in recent years as grant s reputation slowly recovers after being pummeled throughout the 20 th century although grant was very popular during his lifetime, his reputation took a hit after the various scandals of his presidency and his popularity continued to decline due to constant attacks from lost cause supporters, leading to a.
Oct 10, 2017 grant is yet another book like last years american ulysses, by ronald c. The foremost military memoir in the english language, written in a clear, supple style. Grant, american ulysses is a monumental examination of one of the most compelling figures in american history. White that means to correct what used to be the conventional wisdom about grant. Founded in 1997, has become a leading book price comparison site.
The book outlines grants entire life including detailed accounts of his service during. Was james longstreet the best man at ulysses and julia. This memoir, finished as its author was dying of throat cancer in 1885, is widely admired for its clear and straightforward prose. Grant, eighteenth president of the united states, 18691877 begins on p. And last fall saw a new edition of the memoirs edited by john f. Ulysses, novel by irish writer james joyce, first published in book form in 1922. Grant s book itself is a classic, but this paperback printing is highly unreadable. His life and character by hamlin garland garland was a popular 19th century writer who wrote a onevolume account of grants life. Allen this is a magnificent book, certainly one of the very best ever written about the civil war. His life and character by hamlin garland garland was a popular 19th century writer who wrote a onevolume account of grant s life. One contemporary critic wrote that no other american president has told his story as powerfully as ulysses s grant.
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