Ulysses is a modernist novel by irish writer james joyce. Grant is the eighteenth book in the american presidents series a. Certain to be recognized as the classic work on ulysses s. Bush, credit grant with influencing their own writing. One contemporary critic wrote that no other american president has told his story as powerfully as ulysses s grant. 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, 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. In 1869, at age 46, grant became the youngest president in u. 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. Battling terminal throat cancer, grant raced to complete his account of the civil war.
A major new biography of the civil war general and american president, by the author of the new york times bestseller a. The dramatic story of one of americas greatest and most misunderstood military leaders and presidents, this is a major new interpretation of ulysses s. Grant ranks among the finest pieces of military autobiography ever written. The volume was an enormously popular hit upon publication by mark twain, no less, and today personal memoirs of u.
This book contains the complete memoirs of the revered united states general and president, ulysses s. Grant wrote his personal memoirs to secure their future, and in doing so won for himself a unique place in american letters. Grant s book itself is a classic, but this paperback printing is highly unreadable. 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. And last fall saw a new edition of the memoirs edited by john f. Grant, the 18th president of the united states, written by american historian and biographer ron chernow. 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. All the action takes place in and around dublin on a single day june 16, 1904. No 55 personal memoirs by ulysses s grant 1885 the guardian. Parker, a seneca indian who had served with him as a staff officer, commissioner of indian.
Wister took on the book at the urging of his friend m. Wellresearched and well written, this book is a must read for scholars and others interested in gaining accurate insight about a major american leader. White delineates grants virtues better than any author before. May 08, 2009 the autobiography of general ulysses s grant book. Founded in 1997, has become a leading book price comparison site. Ferdinand ward, one of the principals, used grant s name and notoriety to. Twenty years after appomattox, the civil wars greatest general fought his last campaign against death and time.
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. The twovolume set was published by mark twain shortly after grant s death. Whites more concise yet comparably measured grant study, which arrived at similar conclusions. Finally, the best place to start a study of grant can be found in the annotated edition of the personal memoirs of ulysses s.
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. This is the first complete annotated edition of grants memoirs, fully. Chernow asserts that both grants command of the overland campaign and his presidency have been seen in. 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. The story of americas first antihero ended as it began, in poverty. 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. 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. 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.
Stricken by cancer as his family faced financial ruin, ulysses s. 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. President both volumes, with illustrations and maps ulysses s. Famous for his military acumen and for his part in saving the union during the american civil war, ulysses s. Before his presidency, grant led the union army as commanding general of the united states army in winning the american civil war. His father was strict and had definite ideas about many things, including grants education. Indeed, some of chernows thunder was stolen by last octobers american ulysses, ronald c. Grant, american ulysses is a monumental examination of one of the most compelling figures in american history.
Grant died of throat cancer in 1885, probably as a result of smoking several cigars a day for much of his life. Grant, the 18th president of the united states, focused mainly on his military career during the mexicanamerican war and the american civil war. His life and character by hamlin garland garland was a popular 19th century writer who wrote a onevolume account of grants life. Brings to the reader all the rich and crucial history of ulysses s. 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. As president, he brought stability to the country after years of war and upheaval. 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. Was james longstreet the best man at ulysses and julia. While rubbing some tarnish off the idol, bunting follows grants career from superb horseman to professional soldier to twoterm president of the united states.
Grant, written by his wartime assistant, adam badeau, had sold poorly. 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. What drove ulysses grant to write about the civil war. Grant entered the white house on march 4, 1869, politically inexperienced and, at age 46, the youngest man theretofore elected president. 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. Chernow asserts that both grant s command of the overland campaign and his presidency have been seen in an undeservedly negative light. Acclaimed by readers as diverse as mark twain, matthew arnold, gertrude. This memoir, finished as its author was dying of throat cancer in 1885, is widely admired for its clear and straightforward prose.
George henry david professor of history at princeton university, is the author of the. The foremost military memoir in the english language, written in a clear, supple style. Books were scarce in the western reserve during his youth, but he read. Grant is yet another book like last years american ulysses, by ronald c.
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. Grants real name was hiram ulysses grant, but it was entered incorrectly as ulysses s. Grant s personal memoirs of is an autobiography by ulysses s. Grant, original name hiram ulysses grant, born april 27, 1822, point pleasant, ohio, u. Ferdinand ward, one of the principals, used grants name and notoriety to convince people to invest with the firm. The man in general grant is in all of his writings and no other. His appointments to office were uneven in quality but sometimes refreshing. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading personal memoirs of ulysses s. The stylistically dense and exhilarating novel is generally regarded as a masterpiece and is constructed as a parallel to homers odyssey. His memoirs were written in an attempt to take care of his family after his passing, which he did very well. His life and character by hamlin garland garland was a popular 19th century writer who wrote a onevolume account of grant s life. Grant also remains known for his twovolume memoirs, considered among the greatest military memoirs ever written. As general in chief, grant revolutionized modern warfare. He was the 18 th resident of the white house and before his political career.
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. Marszalek, giles distinguished professor emeritus of history and executive director of the ulysses s. Grant was writing at a time when the men and places relating to the war remained fresh in. 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. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
White that means to correct what used to be the conventional wisdom about grant. I am unaware of any other wellwritten memoir by a top general. In ron chernows grant, an american giants makeover. Grant is an autobiography from the 18th president of the united states and was published by mark twain shortly after grants death in 1885. 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. During the american civil war grant led the union army as its commanding general ulysses s. Grant, a union general during the civil war, served two terms as president, from 1869 to 1877. It is typical of the man that he struggled on and finished the book even though. Bankrupt and ashamed in 1880 grant lost the republican party s nomination for a third term as president. A truly remarkable book that is possibly unequalled. Chernow asserts that both grants command of the overland campaign and his presidency have been seen in an undeservedly negative light.
Grant, including his original illustrations and maps. He reminded twain that the military history of ulysses s. The twovolume set was published by mark twain shortly after grant. Grant had already been swindled by a fraudulent business deal, leaving him basically penniless. The son of an appalachian ohio tanner, grant entered the united states military academy at age 17. The book is deeply researched, but it introduces its scholarship with a light touch that. Apr 04, 2019 im on my 4th grant bio in as many weeks, but so far my favorite has been the newest, ron whites american ulysses, particularly its treatment of grants world tour, which was by far the best treatment of that phase of his life aside, of course, from edwina campbells excellent citizen of a wider commonwealth. The modern library civil war bookshelf 5book bundle. Grant, eighteenth president of the united states, 18691877 begins on p. Ron chernow has written a magisterial, but eminently readable, 959page account of the life of ulysses s. Grants book is one of the great books ever written and will stand the test of time. Ulysses s grant grant, ulysses s used books, rare books and new books. Oct 10, 2017 grant is yet another book like last years american ulysses, by ronald c.
Grant possessed something that he did not have before. Grant finished writing his personal memoirs shortly before his death in 1885. Grant was a successful military general and the eighteenth president of the united states. The book outlines grants entire life including detailed accounts of his service during. Read an electronic edition of ulysses grant s famous personal memoirs, a 19thcentury bestseller. 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 an autobiography from the 18th president of the united states and was published by mark twain shortly after grant s death in 1885. Ulysses s grant is one of the most important figures to have held the powerful title the president of the united states. Out of the army, out of office, and out of favorthat was his life now.
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