Understanding Ulysses S. Grant: Portrait of a Warrior

By: Elizabeth D. Samet, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Elizabeth D. Samet

By the time of his death on July 23, 1885, Ulysses S. Grant was an icon in the historical memory of the United States. Just a few decades later, however, constant criticism of his military and political leadership had tarnished his reputation.

Today’s historians have a far more balanced assessment of Grant as a Union Army general and an American president—and that appraisal is at the heart of Understanding Ulysses S. Grant: Portrait of a Warrior. Rich in anecdotes that bring the man to life, this Audible Original takes you from Grant’s formative years as a shy boy from Ohio and then a soldier in the Mexican-American War to his eventual command of the Union Army during the Civil War and his post-presidential world tour as a symbol of a new American identity. Throughout, Professor Elizabeth D. Samet leverages recent academic insights to shed new light on Grant’s many triumphs (and failings), and to create a fascinating, well-rounded portrait of a complicated warrior, leader, American, and human being.

Theodore Roosevelt maintained that Grant was among the “mightiest” US presidents, in a league with George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Was he right? Decide for yourself.

©2022 Audible Originals, LLC (P)2022 Audible Originals, LLC

Informative & Entertaining Course

This course nicely outlines several chapters in US Grants life, providing historical context to him as a soldier, general, and politician. Enough biographical information is provided for listeners to get a firm understanding of his views on the civil war itself as well as the reconstruction period which followed. It’s a comparatively short course but covers the subject matter well.

Fascinating history of General Grant

This is an interesting and informative history of General Grant. Some of this I was already familiar with from books by Shelby Foote and Bruce Catton, but Grant’s life after the Civil War was something that I wasn’t familiar with, and which I found interesting. I recommend this to anyone who wants to learn more about the Civil War from an excellent historian.

Excellent brief synopsis of Grants professional life

I think the author does a great job of presenting his professional life during and after “The Rebellion” . He is under appreciated in American history . His flaws and naïveté make him that much more interesting. After all this time his legacy has been altered from one generation to another . Sometimes depending on political views of the time . But what remains true is that Lincoln’s constant churning of his generals eventually brought the right man to the top

Simply Superb

Well narrated and written, this brief biography of Ulysses Grant is an excellent appetizer prior to tackling his autobiography (which Samet edited) and Chenow’s account.

Awesome Story

Loved hearing the real story of Grant’s character and values. A great man. Super interesting and enjoyable piece.

Succinct but true

A wonderful, but brief account of a truly remarkable man. Rob Chernow’s book being I feel the best biography. Where are the men like this today?

Beautifully written

These reflections on U.S. Grant are very well written : concise and thoughtful, as clear as Grant's legendary memoirs. Based on a thorough knowledge of the biographical details of Grant's life as well as much of the current scholarship about him, Samet dips into many sources to paint a sympathetic and complex picture of him. It's a great pleasure to listen to this wonderfully written and narrated series.

Nice overview

There are an incredible number of fascinating stories about Grant, and this is a nice overview of his life.

Learned a lot!

Great series of lectures on USS Grant. Interesting detail about a very complex man. Well-told.

Well done

These lectures have given me the desire to learn more about General Grant. Thank you for your insightful information.