Grant

By: Jean Edward Smith

Narrated by: Keith Sellon-Wright

Ulysses S. Grant was the first four-star 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. As general in chief, Grant revolutionized modern warfare. Rather than capture enemy territory or march on Southern cities, he concentrated on engaging and defeating the Confederate armies in the field, and he pursued that strategy relentlessly. As president, he brought stability to the country after years of war and upheaval. He tried to carry out the policies of Abraham Lincoln, the man he admired above all others, and to a considerable degree he succeeded. Yet today, Grant is remembered as a brilliant general but a failed president.

In this comprehensive biography, Jean Edward Smith reconciles these conflicting assessments of Grant's life, arguing that Grant is greatly underrated as a president. Following the turmoil of Andrew Johnson's administration, Grant guided the nation through the post-Civil War era, overseeing Reconstruction of the South and enforcing the freedoms of new African-American citizens. His presidential accomplishments were as considerable as his military victories, says Smith, for the same strength of character that made him successful on the battlefield also characterized his years in the White House.

©2001 Jean Edward Smith (P)2019 Tantor

Great General Overview

Great general overview of The General. Put his successes and failures into context and shed some light on the quiet brilliance of a great man

Perfect

Exceeded my expectations. Perfect length, and keeps your interest. The book is extremely informative and enjoyable to read.

Splendid Biography Inspires New Respect for Grant

The glowing obituaries for Jean Edward Smith in the New York Times & Washington Post prompted me to read his Grant biography. So glad I did! It is outstanding & well-narrated. I had read Grant's memoirs & was familiar with him from Civil War books, but this fine volume gave me a new appreciate & respect for his greatness. Grant's ultimate success is remarkable given his struggles after leaving the Army after the Mexican War. It took a good many kindnesses, coincidences & strokes of good fortune. He also endured several brushes with disaster early in his Civil War command. His strength of character and fundamental decency come through clearly. I learned a lot about his progressive attitude toward freed slaves & Native Americans, his desire for national reconciliation & his clashes with Andrew Johnson. His failings, which were more than a few, often flowed from excessive loyalty & naive beliefs of the best about people. The book is beautifully-paced & finely balanced between a well-warranted positive revision of Grant history & a candor about this extraordinary man's humanity & shortcomings. Highly recommend this study of an underappreciated giant in American history.

Grant

Great story of the man as soldier statesman and gentleman.
He was a gentle and selfless man.

Outstanding Account of US Grant

I am going to say this is the most comprehensive book on US Grant I have read. It covers everything, from his youth, his early adult years, his general ship and his presidency.

Grant

The more I learn about the life of Grant, the more I’m impressed with his stoicism and character. I don’t know if this country will ever have anyone like him again…

Grant

This book, Grant, was fantastic! I enjoy history but tend to shy away from the heavy duty books with military battles. However, I bought this book on a whim. I wanted to learn more about Grant. Oh my goodness! The narrator, Keith Sellon-Wright, made this book so very interesting from front to back cover. I doubt there is or will be a better person with the right voice, voice inflections and obvious the enjoyment of the story to read it. My hat is off to him. He brought Grant alive to me. I learned what an amazing man Grant was through Keith's voice. I strongly believe that I wouldn't have gotten to the second half of the book if it wasn't for him. I humbly raise my hat to him and thank him for carrying me through that part of history so well. Dora.

Grant’s greatness

A very interesting story well told —This is biography at it’s best. Will
recommend it to friends & family

Wonderful Tribute To President Grant

As a civil war enthusiast, I found this biography fascinating. President Grant would be thoroughly loved today given his subtlety gracious and straightforward disposition. This book describes his sardonic character to the nth degree. Great book!

Thorough biography with intersting details

A well-written book on Grant. I gained much appreciation for this oft-unappreciated President. I did not realize Grant suffered poverty prior to the Civil War; this fact gives insight into his attitudes later as President and his generous terms given to his foes while he was General in the Civil War. The only minor drawback was the brevity of information given on his 8 years as President. Most biographies address the presidency as the peak of a man's power. in Grant's case, It was anticlimactic to his impact in the Civil War.

This is an entertaining read, especially the 1st part of the book, BEFORE the Civil War starts