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And Grant had trouble protecting himself as well, facing severe financial troubles after his presidency. https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/lifestyle/magazine/america-resilient-coronavirus-pandemic/. Of course, Grant’s efforts to protect former slaves didn’t keep them from suffering after the war, in the backlash against Reconstruction. This was another great book by Mr. Chernow and I eagerly await his book on Twain. Chernow likes extreme research; if a Civil War luminary had hemorrhoids, you can read about them here. I’m glad to have found your blog to help guide me through this journey. Interview by Keith Donohue. Chernow is certainly not the first biographer to successfully capture the convergence of Grant’s life with the nation’s greatest domestic conflict, but he is no less adept than others. If his book introduces new readers to Grant that would have made it a worthwhile endeavor and a good source. And then the role of one president — branded a political amateur — in leading a country still coming apart at the seams. Revered in the north for his victories against the Confederacy in the American civil war, he was respected in … But “Grant” is vast and panoramic in ways that history buffs will love. With 959 pages of text, he’s got room for all that and a lot more. Grant, a Union general during the Civil War, served two terms as president, from 1869 to 1877. Grant truly was the first civil rights President. I was not aware of his next project until now. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. It’s visionary in a no holds barred way. Elizabeth Samet’s is the one I’d recommend, simply because hers is broader and more culturally focused while the other (can’t remember how to spell his name…Marszalek or something) is more focused on battlefield minutiae and details. I’d definitely recommend it. Change ). I n 1885, Ulysses S Grant died a hero. It’s jolting to read about how the Union’s Civil War victory proved to be a beginning, not an ending; how it led to a spike in white supremacist groups and their efforts to keep newly enfranchised black men from voting; how the president who succeeded Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, seemed determined to undo the Union’s success; how the voting rights for freed male slaves guaranteed by the 15th Amendment were allowed to erode; how the once squeaky-clean Grant began surrounding himself with rich friends and became embroiled in financial scandal once he attained the power of the presidency. Most individuals that are going to read Grant by Ron Chernow won’t seek out individual books on these battles or read numerous bios on Grant to get this information. Some day I will have to go back and re-read “Washington: A Life” even though it will mean putting off something else – I need to remind myself just how good that was and how, for better or worse, it really set the 5-star bar for me . Gazing up at North America’s largest mausoleum, Chernow recalls that Walt Whitman dubbed Ulysses S. Grant and Abraham Lincoln the two “towering majestic figures” of … Grant didn’t write any Federalist Papers and was something of a cipher, but he led a mercurial life and had a transformative effect on his country’s history. Like its more recent predecessors, Grant skillfully dislodges a host of pernicious myths. This was a great book, but, to be honest, I preferred Jean Edward Smith’s bio, and I would definitely recommend that to a newcomer to Grant than Chernow’s tome, if only because it’s not nearly as intimidating. His uniform has been given a dark, formal look; in the original image it’s light enough for wrinkles and shabbiness to show. From his early days as a scrappy lower-class child, to his mid-life drunkery and business failures, to his triumphant victories in the civil war and presidency, Chernow covers it all. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I thought this book was fantastic. The Ulysses S. Grant revival is in full swing. Captain Sam Grant by Lloyd Lewis (4%) Grant by Jean Edward Smith (4%) Let Us Have Peace by Brooks D. Simpson (4%) American Ulysses by Ronald C. White (4%) This information appeared in the Monitor 's special issue Grant vs Lee . I think you’re going to love Titan. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. We obviously disagree on this particular book’s merit…but I’d be ok with Chernow having skipped Grant as his most recent biographical subject if it meant he would have used that time to craft a 4+ star biography of Jackson, Van Buren, McKinley, TR or Taft…, That’s cool. This is a great review! “Luckily, the book that I am writing at the moment is on Mark Twain, so I am holed up in my apartment with arguably the most entertaining person in American history.” As someone who appreciates the political over military, I enjoyed the relative brevity attached to battles. AMERICAN ULYSSES A Life of Ulysses S. Grant By Ronald C. White Illustrated. I also read Smith’s bio too, both were excellent, though I’d give the edge to Chernow. I did see the Annotated Edition of Grant’s Memoirs & would be interested in owning & reading that as well one day. It’s not clear what happened after that. It’s a brilliant piece of work, & his writing style is so modern: just like his persona, it’s spare, direct & honest. No worries! Keep up the great work!!! Two recent books take contrapuntal positions on the political career of Ulysses S. Grant, the general who won the Civil War and served as president. The inspired commander idea still works for Chernow, but he argues strongly against the rest. Apparently John F. Marszalek didn’t really agree with Chernow’s approach to Grant’s drinking episodes or his conclusions either. Ron Chernow on Ulysses S. Grant with General (Ret.) 49, No. He’s also so ahead of his time the way he writes about racism, both in American society & in the military. Magisterial and exceptionally thorough, this is the most recent biography seeking to re-evaluate and rehabilitate Grant’s reputation following William McFeely’s comparatively critical Putlizer Prize-winning assessment of the general-turned-politician. He is especially compelling in discussing the fight for Black civil rights during Reconstruction. (A new, annotated edition of his much-lauded Civil War memoirs also arrives this month.) [Chernow's] understanding of human nature is extraordinary and that is what makes his biography so powerful. ( Log Out /  “Grant” is yet another book (like last year’s “American Ulysses,” by Ronald C. … But thanks for the suggestion! Overall rating: 4½ stars David H. Petraeus. I agree Shelby Foote is an excellent writer – was my first real analysis of the Civil War and couldn’t get enough, and now I’ve read almost 60 books on it. White, American Ulysses, 478-485. For anyone interested in fully embracing the famously reticent Grant it is a must read. In his early days, he drank heavily enough to be forced out of his job as an Army quartermaster after only five months. There are three specific issues I’d like to address in some detail. I too wondered when you would get around to this book. After reading one passage quoting TR and Debs, I asked – 1895 or 2020. Bestpresidentialbios.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Ron Chernow: Grant. Wonderful book. [2] Ronald C. White, American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant (New York, 2016). Chernow explained his transition from writing about George Washington to Grant: "Makes some sense as progression. Ulysses S. Grant's life has typically been misunderstood. Readers will quickly discover that Chernow is no unreliable fan of Grant; his support is full-throated and enthusiastic. His father, Jesse, never stopped exploiting Ulysses, whether making him work in a tannery as a boy (a stomach-turning job for him) or using the Grant presidency as a marketing gimmick for his business. I don’t think that Chernow’s book has a place and he should have written a biography on a different subject. In the interest of not reading back-to-back Chernow I’m starting Andrew Robert biography of Winston Churchill…but I’m not planning to wait too long to read Chernow’s biography of Rockefeller. 4 | Authors on the Record. Books of its caliber by writers of Chernow’s stature are rare, and this one qualifies as a major event. By comparison, do you feel that Chernow’s gave equal time to both military career and presidency/post presidency? Hi-maybe you missed it in my initial comment, but I have read Grant’s Memoirs. After finishing, I decided to undertake reading a biography of each of the presidents. Please Note: Every book I review has been purchased by me. I think that Grant by Jean Edward Smith covers the battles better than other biographies and Whites book is solid for the presidential years. It focuses on Grants drinking every few pages as though the authors needs to tell the reader if there has been any drinking at this stage in his life. . Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant. I have the Churchill book looking at me too – if I wasn’t halfway through Battle Cry of Freedom I might dig in! But I can only put off a Chernow biography for so long before I give in. Random House. The annotated ones are pretty hefty, and I also own a leather bound edition by Easton Press that’s pretty nice. But Chernow has found many others from new and obscure sources. — 28,735 pages. Grant once issued an order expelling Jews from a Southern military district but Chernow thinks this may have had something to do with Oedipal rage against his father, who once went to Mississippi with three Jewish cotton traders who … does it matter? White, American Ulysses, 473-477. Pulitzer Prize winner Ron Chernow returns with a sweeping and dramatic portrait of one of our most compelling generals and presidents, Ulysses S. Grant. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. His mother, upon greeting her son, the victorious general, said flatly: “Well, Ulysses, you’ve become a great man, haven’t you?” And then she went back to doing housework. — 123,546 pages, Mar 2019 – Especially with the current events in this country. Chernow grapples with an enormous amount of material, while mostly sustaining a tight focus. I would agree with your review, especially the part about the drinking allegations being rehashed to the point of distraction! Among the other highlights are a compelling comparison between Grant and Confederate General Robert E. Lee, a vivid (if depressing) account of post-war America and an excellent chapter appraising Grant’s presidential legacy and providing an assessment of Reconstruction itself. The book points out that Grant also went to a synagogue dedication and sat through a lot of talk in Hebrew. Having read biographies of Andrew Carnegie (by David Nasaw) and J.P. Morgan (Jean Strouse) recently I would love to round things out with a great biography of John D. Rockefeller! When you do read his memoirs, I would recommend considering one of the annotated editions. I remember particularly loving his telling of the Civil War portion of Grant’s life as well. Sitting on my shelf. Enter your email address to follow this blog & receive new post alerts... “A dysfunctional family was the collateral heartbreak that accompanies the Reagans’ epic love.”, The Triumph of Nancy Reagan by Karen Tumulty, Jan 2013 – Feb 2019: “Grant” is much livelier than this author’s “Alexander Hamilton.” (If you’re anyone other than Lin-Manuel Miranda, that book was a tough slog.) Pulitzer Prize winner Ron Chernow returns with a sweeping and dramatic portrait of one of our most compelling generals and presidents, Ulysses S. Grant. And both Grant’s wife, Julia (who favored dresses with bows in the back), and a designated watcher tried to monitor his behavior. The biography does a nice job capturing Grant’s early years, but the chapters describing his service in the Civil War are even better. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Historians have not been kind to Ulysses S. Grant, but a new biography by Ron Chernow seeks to restore Grant to his rightful place among American leaders. Grant’s hair appears neatly trimmed, though in the original it looks gnawed on by wolves. Penguin Press. He manages to put on Grant goggles and deal primarily with this one soldier’s role in the military, this one leader’s role in the Civil War. This is also at least his second book to take an interest in false teeth. https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/ron-chernow-ulysses-grant-interview I’ve been reading the new book on TR and Morgan which deals with the Gilded Age and the conflict between government, capital, and labor. Ulysses S. Grant. Chernow leads up to the battle and then covers its aftermath and how it impacted grant right after. In contrast to the man portrayed in McFeely’s 1981 biography, Chernow’s subject frequently receives the benefit of the doubt and occasionally seems super-human. American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant - Kindle edition by White Jr, Ronald C.. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Chernow’s indispensable book, which attempts to see Grant’s life as a triumph, is also steeped in tragedy. In addition, Chernow is careful to infuse the narrative with an appropriate dose of historical context – enough to understand how Grant’s choices affect (and are affected by) the broader world, but not so much that the reader is bogged down in trivia with little direct bearing. For anyone interested in fully embracing the famously reticent Grant it is a must read. I think Chernow could have done a biography on Madison or Monroe and it would have been amazing. It’ll take you a while but it’s worth a read. As an African American I was deeply touched & moved by his words: they could’ve been written today in 2020 sadly. Instead of a personal pronoun.” The life of Ulysses S. Grant was one of action and motion, yet it reads like an American tragedy. It is a very good biography, although a bit constrained by the author's focus on telling a clear story about the life of Grant, who was a more complex man than the story lets on. The book includes an awful lot of instances when Grant slipped up in his abstinence, but Chernow is deeply in his subject’s camp, always ready to play apologist about the drinking and other troubling behaviors. As he was dying, Ulysses S. Grant wrote to a friend, “I am a verb. www.bestpresidentialbios.com. Excellent review. It was as good as any I can think of. Grant is a 2017 biography of Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th President of the United States, written by American historian and biographer Ron Chernow. Raised in Ohio and educated at West Point, Grant had the humility to do any kind of labor he could find, and the family to make him want to keep working. The cover art’s beautification echoes what Chernow has done on the page. Chernow rectifies all that and more, and his rich, detailed assessment of Grant’s role in Reconstruction and the history of race relations is invaluable. I do have the Grant series sitting on my DVR but I haven’t watched it yet (strange as that sounds). 826 pp. I’ve looked forward to you writing this one for a long time. That’s understandable. Overall, however, Ron Chernow’s “Grant” ranks with the very best of the single-volume biographies of Ulysses S. Grant. I was actually addressing it to Steve specifically, but the ‘Reply’ option only allowed me to provide a response directly under his comment but connected to your original comment (his comment didn’t have a direct ‘Reply’ option). Then I thought it would be odd to read two follow-up bios of Grant and none on so many others. Because I read Chernow’s biography of George Washington shortly after reading about Grant, I was struck by the many similarities between these two men. All too often he is caricatured as a chronic loser and an inept businessman or as the triumphant but brutal Union general of the Civil War. Oftentimes I find myself skimming over them. Typo: Arnell- you’re absolutely right: Grant was the first civil rights President. There are ways in which Grant’s times eerily resemble our own. For a century and a half Ulysses S. Grant has been a baffling and inspiring presence in the American literary and historical imaginations. While Grant covers much of the same interpretive ground as other popular texts, including Ronald C. White’s 2016 American Ulysses, Chernow’s volume constitutes a new peak in sales and exposure. — 240 presidential bios With a knack for choosing excellent biographical subjects and a famously eloquent pen, Chernow consistently crafts uniquely marvelous chronologies. I recently realized that on a trip to Lake George, NY a few years I passed within a few minutes of where he finished writing those…and I was distraught to have missed the opportunity to stop by and see it. That story is well known. Ulysses S. Grant's life has typically been misunderstood. I have used it for several years to get inspiration on things to read and use your reviews as a guideline for how good books are. But I thought Smith’s depiction of the crucial Grant-Sherman relationship was outstanding, and I was surprised to find Chernow didn’t seem to develop that nearly as much. I also love reading your reviews on the biographies you’ve written in this blog on them. Fans of Chernow will not be surprised to find the narrative so captivating it often dazzles like a work of fiction. Jean Edward Smith’ s Grant is also awesome. I’m curious, with other Grant biographies that you’ve read, do you feel like they focused more on military Grant more than President Grant? While Chernow’s treatment of Grant’s Civil War campaigns is far superior to that in Ronald White’s American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant, the absence of any campaign studies from the bibliography troubled me. Unlike many presidents, Grant’s post presidency was so interesting, a quick summation wouldn’t do him justice. I’m reading this now; I’m in the Presidency section. Some critics have argued his knowledge of specific battles or military affairs is less sharp than his ability to deliver a smooth sentence; if true, most readers will miss this subtlety. I’ve been waiting to get to this for some time as well! Chernow’s Grant is one of my must-reads this year, especially after reading Grant’s Memoirs last year: what a brilliant piece of literature! Indeed. This one was definitely worth the pretty hardback now laying on my shelf, though. But his most notorious faults are quite hard to miss: a fondness for alcohol and his perpetual business naivete being the most conspicuous. If you’ve not read a TR bio…you must! Thanks again for the wonderful blog. It is such a good one in my opinion also. First of all, I LOVE your blog & often use it as a reference point for my own reading habits. In a book that is very much of its time, he puts Grant’s attitudes toward racism, anti-Semitism, political corruption and alcoholism front and center, while also homing in on every battle Grant ever fought. It is engrossing, revealing and could hardly be better (unless, ironically, there was a tad less of it). American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant, is a solid, workmanlike effort by Ronald C. White, professor emeritus of American religious history at San Francisco Theological Seminary; Grant is a detailed, vivid, sophisticated life by Ron Chernow, the justly acclaimed biographer of Alexander Hamilton, George Washington, and John D. Rockefeller, as well as the chronicler of the J.P. Morgan banking house. Hi, I came across your blog after watching Grant, a mini-series on the History channel in the UK. — 15 follow-up presidential bios & The picture of Ulysses S. Grant on the cover of Ron Chernow’s overstuffed but essential new biography has been made prettier than its untouched version. I would have slotted it in earlier but since I read Chernow’s “Hamilton” last year I thought I should wait to read his biography of Grant…so I read Ronald White’s. There is no doubt that Ron Chernow tells a beautiful story in his recent biography of Ulysses S. Grant. I am probably being too harsh on Chernow though. Granted, the non-annotated version is also excellent, reading just pure Grant, but I do like both annotated editions for extra levels of insight and context they add from a modern perspective. [1] GRANT, by Ron Chernow. George Washington established this precedent in 1789 when he appointed department secretaries that offered expertise different than his own. As always, you write the best presidential biography reviews out there. In fact, while the ongoing exploration of Grant’s alcoholism is unusually meticulous and surprisingly nuanced, it is so frequently mentioned that it eventually grows distracting. And it rarely loses sight of Grant’s relationships with his parents, wife or children. “Grant” provides its audience with a nearly ideal balance between the public and private sides of Grant’s life. I do love my Penguin Classics Edition, it’s so portable, the print is perfect, & it went with me everywhere, & looks like it’s been through one of the Union’s battles lol. But just as no one could have predicted Hamilton ’s pop trajectory, Chernow’s deep dive on Ulysses S. Grant may defy the odds — just as the Union’s … And in nearly every way this is classic Chernow: wonderfully written, generously insightful and almost endlessly engaging. Lincoln also followed his example. Like others have said, I’ve been waiting for you to review this as well and was not disappointed. Sorry if my comment came across the wrong way. I was really looking forward to Grant by Chernow, it just didn’t do it for me, unfortunately. Then there’s the fact that when Grant moved into the White House, he had a statue of Thomas Jefferson, the slave owner, removed from the north lawn and sent to the Capitol. $35.. Gore Vidal did not expect Ulysses S. Grant to … The legendary Ron Chernow details the life of the former president of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant. I found the coverage of Reconstruction very revealing and enlightening. If it had been my first book on Grant I probably would have overlooked some of its flaws or not noticed them at all. Some day I’d love to have if not a first edition at least an early one from the late 19th century. In Ron Chernow’s ‘Grant,’ an American Giant’s Makeover Continues, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/10/books/review-grant-biography-ron-chernow.html. GRANT, by Ron Chernow.Penguin Press, 1,074 pp., $40. I find Washington and Grant to both be fascinating personalities in slightly different ways, and Chernow an extremely skilled writer, so I really loved both of these biographies! I think Monroe could have been very good, but I think Chernow wanted to focus on a different time period since he already did two on revolutionary figures. Thanks Steve – can’t wait to check this one out. What a kindly, humble, brilliant man. I *still* haven’t read his memoirs (it’s inexplicable, but I’m still focused on third-party perspectives) but I intend to read those soon. Chernow can’t be beat – can’t wait for the next one. I love to compare what you’ve read vs. what I’ve read, & read your reviews for a new perspective. I thought you might rate even closer to 5, but it is clear that you have always put a lot of thought into those ratings. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. The cover art’s beautification echoes what Chernow has done on the page. Even some of Grant’s interactions with key figures are covered a bit too quickly during these episodes. Popular biographies, such as Ronald C. White’s American Ulysses (2016) and Ron Chernow’s Grant (2017), have made compelling cases that Grant… Chernow is clearly out to find undiscovered nobility in his story, and he succeeds; he also finds uncannily prescient tragedy. I read this book last fall and found it fascinating, enjoyable, surprisingly relevant. Ronald White's "American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant" was published in 2016, two years after I spent eight weeks reading six other biographies of Grant. Chernow is bestselling the author of “Alexander Hamilton,” the Pulitzer Prize-winning “Washington: A Life” and award-winning biographies of John D. Rockefeller and the J.P. Morgan and Warburg dynasties. And although Ronald White’s “American Ulysses” beat this biography to market by a year, Chernow’s “Grant” delivers an additional 300 pages of insight and perspective…and a writing style second-to-none. Ron Chernow’s revelations on Grant’s drinking might have been insightful I just don’t like the way he approached it. I knew you would like it. For “Washington,” he actually spent some time at Mount Vernon gazing at his subject’s grizzly choppers. Only his own Washington was better. My Journey Through the Best Presidential Biographies, https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/lifestyle/magazine/america-resilient-coronavirus-pandemic/. The evidence consists of countless stories in which Grant asked that his wine glass be turned upside down at dinner. Eventually I will get to Chernow’s Grant; it’s here at home waiting its turn. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Seems Jon Meacham is doing one which I am really looking forward to since we don’t have definitive one yet. I really how Chernow brings history to the general public in a compelling and engaging way. The edition I read was the Penguin Classics one, with the foreword by the great historian James McPherson. And Chernow covered Grant’s post presidency in much greater depth than Smith. If I disagree in my comments I post it’s all in good fun. In 2011, Chernow signed a deal to write a comprehensive biography on Ulysses S. Grant. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. He was a phenomenally interesting man and, ironic as it sounds, was far more fascinating to me before and after his presidency rather than during his two terms in office. In contrast to the rest of the book these eleven chapters can be a bit of a slog – much like the Grant presidency itself. ( Log Out /  You should check it out, although I am sure you may have seen it already! Both are excellent, but Samet’s is more enjoyable. But throughout, the author takes his subject’s side in controversy after controversy, even when the evidence doesn’t support it. I loved this book! I think Lincoln would’ve been the first, as he was continuously evolving in his perspective on racism, but his assassination cut that short. In addition to FDR and Lincoln (who are hard to find dull) I think Teddy Roosevelt is infectiously interesting. He also offers something he has found wanting in previous biographies of Grant: “a systematic account of his relations with the four million slaves, whom he helped to liberate, feed, house, employ, and arm during the war, then shielded from harm when they became American citizens.”. You’re absolutely right Steve: Grant was the first civil rights President. Winter 2017–1, Vol. As you note, Grant’s battles are covered expertly elsewhere, so I do not believe Mr. Chernow would have been adding anything – just retreading what others have done. ( Log Out /  One has to wonder if Twain’s involvement in Grant’s memoirs impacted his decision. Born in 1822 and raised by a pious Methodist mother, as a young man he was quiet, given to depressions, and lacking much ambition. Another disappointment is the lack of coverage on grant during battles. Pulitzer Prize winner Ron Chernow returns with a sweeping and dramatic portrait of one of our most compelling generals and presidents, Ulysses S. Grant. The color tinting of this black-and-white image has made his eyes a piercing blue. American Ulysses is a new biography of General Ulysses Grant, written by an author who has written extensively on the time, including a biography of Abraham Lincoln. Also eerie is how Grant the politician came to value loyalty over ideology, and how stories of Ku Klux Klan atrocities were dismissed by Southerners as “fairy tales” — i.e., fake news. $40.00. — 32 “other” biographies Years ago I met FDR III at Riverside Park during the dedication of a statue for his grandmother Eleanor Roosevelt, whom my mother was named after.

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