U. S. Grant and the American Military Tradition

By: Bruce Catton

Narrated by: Robert Fass

A fascinating and insightful examination of the life and times of the victorious Civil War general who became a controversial American president.

In U. S. Grant and the American Military Tradition, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Bruce Catton explores the life and legacy of one of the nation's greatest and most misunderstood heroes before, during, and after the terrible War Between the States that violently split the country in two. Beginning with Ulysses S. Grant's youth in Ohio and his service as a young lieutenant under General Zachary Taylor in the Mexican-American War, the story continues through Grant's postwar disgrace, his forced resignation for drinking, and his failures as a citizen farmer and salesman. But after the Civil War broke out, Grant rose from the rank of an unknown solider to commanding general of the US Army, finding redemption as the military savior of the embattled Union.

Proving his reputation as America's premiere expert on the Civil War, Catton examines Grant's campaigns in enthralling detail, including Fort Henry; Shiloh; the Siege of Vicksburg, which set the Confederate enemy on the inevitable road to defeat; and Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House, which solidified Grant as a figure of national acclaim. Catton then explores Grant's two-term presidency and final years, casting an illuminating new light on a complex and controversial national figure whose great accomplishments have all too often been downplayed or overlooked.

©1954 Bruce Catton (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Excellent

American Military Tradition

Bruce Catton

This was an enjoyable read about General Grant’s life and career. Written by a very highly qualified historian, one would expect to find a more detailed account. However it reads more like a brief overview if compared to later works by Ron Chernow, or by Grant’s own autobiography.

The key, I suppose, is not to make the comparison. Catton’s book was published in 1954. His analysis of Grant is spot on, documenting him as the hero he was. Many historical figures go through phases after their deaths. For a long time, Grant was considered a drunken butcher who bumbled through his successes because he had superior forces. Catton, a southern historian, mentions that reputation, then proceeds to refute it. He paints Grant in the heroic image in which Chernow and others recognize him today.

Walk like you know what you are doing and people with think you know what you are doing...

Awesome book, and awesome man. I had read this book years ago, but listening to it and not having to worry about writing a paper let me enjoy it.

Lack of detail

While very well written this Grant bio lacks so much of Chernow, Jean Smith, Ronald White, etc.

It was disappointing

Bruce Catton is among huge most eminent US historians, so offering anything less than five stars seems out of order, but this book fails to deliver anything substantive regarding what the title implies. Instead, what <I>U. S. Grant and the American Military Tradition</I> offers is a protracted biography.

Very Biased and distorted view of Reconstruction

This book lacked the scholarship needed to provide a honest assessment of the reconstruction era. Does not adequately appreciate the extreme violence directed at Blacks and Whites who were on opposite side political spectrum. In some cases the narrative was totally false. No mention of groups like the KKK and writes most of the violence was from people who sided with the North/Union. Paraphrasing: Negroes only voted because of agitation from carpet baggers and once the Federal Troops were removed Negroes dutifully fell into their proper social order. Absolutely no acknowledgement of southern criminality-- just a very unbalanced and distorted view of history. Causes me to question whether other aspects of the book are equally false or distorted like his pre war life.