The Man Who Saved the Union

Ulysses Grant in War and Peace

By: H. W. Brands

Narrated by: Stephen Hoye

From New York Times best-selling author H. W. Brands, a masterful biography of the Civil War general and two-term president who saved the Union twice, on the battlefield and in the White House, holding the country together at two critical turning points in our history.

Ulysses Grant rose from obscurity to discover he had a genius for battle, and he propelled the Union to victory in the Civil War. After Abraham Lincoln's assassination and the disastrous brief presidency of Andrew Johnson, America turned to Grant again to unite the country, this time as president. In Brands' sweeping, majestic full biography, Grant emerges as a heroic figure who was fearlessly on the side of right. He was a beloved commander in the field but willing to make the troop sacrifices necessary to win the war, even in the face of storms of criticism. He worked valiantly to protect the rights of freedmen in the South; Brands calls him the last presidential defender of Black civil rights for nearly a century. He played it straight with the American Indians, allowing them to shape their own fate even as the realities of Manifest Destiny meant the end of their way of life. He was an enormously popular president whose memoirs were a huge best seller; yet within decades of his death his reputation was in tatters, the victim of Southerners who resented his policies on Reconstruction. In this page-turning biography, Brands now reconsiders Grant's legacy and provides a compelling and intimate portrait of a man who saved the Union on the battlefield and consolidated that victory as a resolute and principled political leader.

©2012 H. W. Brands; 2012 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Once again, H. W. Brands has crafted a wonderful portrait of a great leader who endured and prevailed in hours of stress and strain. Brands' U. S. Grant is a compelling figure, a man too often overlooked by history. This book rectifies that with grace and insight." (Jon Meacham, author of American Lion, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for biography)

"This authoritative biography of an obscure failure and occasional drunkard who became a Civil War generalissimo and the 18th U.S. president is a study in two kinds of moral courage.... [Brands'] narrative of Grant's military campaigns in particular is lucid, colorful, and focused on telling moments of decision. His Grant emerges as an immensely appealing figure...with a keen mind, stout character, and unpretentious manner. The result is a fine portrait of the quintessential American hero." ( Publishers Weekly)

"Too frequently overshadowed or overlooked, U. S. Grant finally gets his due in H. W. Brands' splendid new biography. With verve and his trademark scholarship, Brands vividly brings Grant to life. Here, rendered in all his humanity, is the soldier, statesman, president. Here, too, is a man as much for our time as for his." (Jay Winik, author of April 1865 and The Great Upheaval)

OUTSTANDING HISTORICAL STORY

Would you listen to The Man Who Saved the Union again? Why?

NO.
TOO MANY AUDIBLE BOOKS YET TO HEAR.

What other book might you compare The Man Who Saved the Union to and why?

ALL OF H. W. BRANDS WORKS; HE LIVES AND TEACHES HERE IN AUSTIN.

What does Stephen Hoye bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

MAKES IT MORE INTERESTING.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

NO.
I DO A LOT OF WORK ON MY LAWNS AND GARDENS; WHILE I WORK, I LISTEN.

Any additional comments?

WAITING FOR THE NOVEMBER CROP OF NEW MYSTERY THRILLERS.

First-rate

Civil War buffs can fill in some necessarily tangential areas; those not as familiar will learn a great deal.

Economical yet superb treatment of his presidency.

Not written on a 5th grade level as one complained but rather sharply and mercifully written in plain English, free of jargon and bloated prose.

One of the best presidents

It is amazing how much he did for our nation during the war and after. He stopped the KKK but other presidents allowed to proposer again causing major harm to civil rights. A story of a real patriot American

Good biography overall.

Not as good as Chernow, but an easier read. goes into war issues outside of Grant.

The Man Who Saved the Union

It was tough going and I had to stop listening to it but after the war started it became very interesting. I enjoyed learning about the General and I do think his scandals where overblown and his accomplishments as President were undervalued. This biography helped me understand all of this, in detail. The performance was just fine. Not sure how it could have been improved but it did seem to "drone" on and on. It was the book that kept me listening and perhaps the performer was trying to accomplish this by his performance overshadowing the story.

Compelling narrative

The first half of this book, through Appomattox, is a detailed, meticulously researched account of Grant’s life and contributions. It convincingly sets forth what distinguished Grant from other Union generals. Brands also sets Grant’s activities within the general context of contemporary events and trends, but that analysis does not go very deep.

The second half of the book is much more rewarding. Of necessity, it deals with the issues and trends of the day and Grant’s influences on and reactions to them, and it focuses less on personal details. It sets forth the accomplishments of his administration, which are too often overshadowed by the scandals at the end of his term. Brands argues that Grant showed the same courage trying to protect the freedmen and, to a lesser extent, Native Americans, that he showed in battle.

The book also raises fascinating questions that deserve greater analysis, including: Did the Radical Republicans in Congress really hijack Reconstruction and direct it in ways Lincoln would never have countenanced, or did they try to save it from Johnson’s attempts to ingratiate himself with Southern Democrats? At the end of the Civil War, Grant was afraid the rebel armies would disintegrate into guerilla bands. While the armies did not “take to the hills,” should the KKK be treated as the reconstituted guerilla force that Grant feared? Sheridan considered the KKK to be terrorists. Had they been treated as such at the time, would civil rights have been established before more than another century had passed?

Excellent history of a general

Would you consider the audio edition of The Man Who Saved the Union to be better than the print version?

Before I picked this book, I knew nothing of Grant. Though very long book, the reading is excellent.

What did you like best about this story?

Personal details about Grant. Great general but poor biz man. Clearly there are no super-humans who are good at everything.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, I wish I could listen to it all in one sitting...

Any additional comments?

Great, but somehow, I believe it can be abridged.

Tells Grant's story from historic documents.

Great book. Using primary resources helps explain Grant in a true way. Demonstrates the leadership Grant possessed through difficult times. His flaws are also explained in this balanced writing.

Excellent Book. Worth the money and time invested

Where does The Man Who Saved the Union rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Near the top of the books I have listened to so far.

What did you like best about this story?

The best thing about the book is that the author relays a full picture of Grant as a person and what made him tick.

What about Stephen Hoye’s performance did you like?

The pace of the book was just right. It kept me engaged without moving too fast.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Grant, the man behind the myth.

Any additional comments?

Highly recommended to anyone.

A Worthy Review of a Life

I especially recommend this book for people like me, who want to understand our nation now and in the past. The prose is as clear and direct as Grant's own writing. His mistakes and imperfections are neither hidden nor exaggerated.