American Ulysses

July 18, 2016
Concerned that Grant, a Civil War general and two-term U.S. president, “has slipped from our American memory,” White (A. Lincoln), a historian and fellow at the Huntington Library, has crafted an exhaustive biography that offers a reevaluation of Grant’s life. Presenting Grant as “exceptional,” White excels at depicting the public man: his life as a soldier, as a businessman, as a politician. The author’s style is fluid and engaging, which makes this behemoth a page-turner. His mastery of history is clear on every page. Yet the eight years of Grant’s presidency receive far less attention than his four years of Civil War service, which suggests that Grant was less exceptional at the former than the latter. Also, White periodically includes details that come across as extraneous, though military aficionados will revel in the painstaking battle recreations. And he’s less successful in describing Grant’s private life. Critical of other biographies for shortchanging Julia Dent Grant, White doesn’t do much better. She and their children remain in the background, woven in as brief asides. It’s the same with religion, which seemed to matter to Grant—but exactly how isn’t clear. Impressive for its breadth, if not always its depth, White’s is a remarkable biography of a remarkable life. Maps & illus.

This scholarly but readable biography of the Civil War general and president finds some new facets in understanding "the silent man."Deriving much of his scholarship from Grant's extensive letters to his wife, Julia Dent, and from The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant, edited by John Y. Simon, White (A. Lincoln: A Biography, 2009, etc.) offers a fresh assessment of this enigmatic leader, who, like his Homeric namesake, failed at many things before he succeeded in life. Indeed, the author rebuts many of the long-held notions about Grant--e.g., that he was nonintellectual and that he was a heavy drinker. He was first and foremost a reader, though largely self-educated. He certainly could not have graduated from West Point without an extensive intellect, and while he was never a hunter, he had a magical way with horses, in particular. Both these traits endeared him to his longtime love and wife, Julia, who was also a horsewoman and avid reader. Grant was raised by fervent Methodist parents and was a churchgoing man himself. Though he probably had to resign from the army in 1854 at age 32 because of a drinking episode, he was henceforth known to inflict strict discipline on his troops regarding alcohol. (Smoking cigars seemed to have been his vice, and he died of throat cancer.) While White does not provide a nuanced chronicle of the Civil War, which can be found in countless other histories, he does ably portray a sense of the transformation of his subject from civilian to soldier and, from there, to reluctant hero. Northerners and President Abraham Lincoln were clamoring for victories, and Grant actually delivered, most spectacularly in seizing control of the Mississippi at Vicksburg. The author portrays a humble, gentle, independent soul--a writer, in the end, who found his voice writing his extraordinary memoirs just before his death in 1885. An engaging resurrection of Grant featuring excellent maps and character sketches. COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

August 1, 2016

Presidential historian White (A. Lincoln) offers a comprehensive biography of Civil War general and 18th U.S. president Ulysses S. Grant (1822-85). The author situates Grant's life amid the turmoil of the 19th century, yet makes Grant accessible to modern readers, while rescuing his place in history from "lost cause" historians. Drawing upon the full 33 volumes of The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant as well as hundreds of letters written to his wife, Julia Dent Grant, a portrait emerges of a man deeply devoted to his country, family, and friends. This trust was sometimes abused by acquaintances for their own gain, tarnishing Grant's reputation and destroying his finances, especially during his second term. The author unconvincingly reassesses Grant's drinking habits. What contemporaries saw as evidence of drunkenness, White dismisses as the consequences of accidents or illness. Readers interested in other perspectives of Grant should see Jean Edward Smith's Grant or H.W. Brand's The Man Who Saved the Union. VERDICT This thoughtful and sympathetic portrayal will be appreciated by Civil War enthusiasts and readers of presidential history alike. [See Prepub Alert, 4/3/16.]--Chad E. Statler, Lakeland Comm. Coll., Kirtland, OH

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from September 1, 2016
Ulysses S. Grant presents an intriguing historical irony: that such a successful military figure, who rose to serve as the head of the Union forces in the Civil War, could at the same time bear a reputation for being one of our weakest of presidents. The author of the award-winning A. Lincoln (2009) squares this dichotomy in a rich, dynamic narrative rightly placed alongside other superior studies of the Civil War, whether biographical or in more general examinations of sociopolitical issues. White's compelling voice and provocative discernment trump the lengthiness of his narrative, and as a consequence, we are given a deeply involving life story judicious in its estimation of both the military and political man. It is restorative in its unvarnished but respectful and responsible analysis of Grant's considerable impact. Necessarily, many pages are given over to battlefield strategies and results. Additionally, Grant's family life is paid fond attention to, just as he paid close attention to his wife and children during his entire military and presidential years. The story ultimately ends on an upbeat note, despite Grant's race against death from throat cancer, for the fact is he was able to complete his now-classic Personal Memoirs, published posthumously in 1885 to considerable and ongoing popular and critical acclaim.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)