Grant 18221885 was one of the most esteemed individuals of the nineteenth century. Ulysses simpson grant, the commanderinchief of union forces during the final years of. Ron chernows grant has been a national bestseller, deservedly so, but we think that the new edition of the personal memoirs of ulysses s. His twovolume memoirs, sold doortodoor by former union soldiers, have never gone out of print and were once as ubiquitous in american households as the bible. Make offer 1886 personal memoirs of ulysses s grant 2 volumes leather books. With kaleidoscopic, trenchant, pathbreaking insights, elizabeth d. While praise is heaped upon confederate generals such as lee and jackson, grant s legacy has always been a little more uncertain. Grant the brilliant military commander and hero of the american civil war, but few people now living know the selfeffacing, downtoearth man who wrote these memoirs of his military career one of the greatest war memoirs ever composed as he was dying of cancer, in hopes of keeping his family from poverty after his death. Thick octavo, original silver and giltstamped green cloth.
Jun 01, 2004 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Grant and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Oct, 2017 its title is the personal memoirs of ulysses s. Mark twain had known many of the great men of the civil war and the gilded age, and esteemed none more highly than ulysses s. Growing up, grant found that he hated the tannery business, but also found that he had a unique ability to work with horses.
One hundred and thirtythree years after its 1885 publication by mark twain, elizabeth samet has annotated this lavish edition of grants landmark memoir, and expands the civil war backdrop against which this monumental american life is typically read. Buy a cheap copy of memoirs and selected letters book by ulysses s. I will listen to it over and over again because its so chuck full of information presented in a down to earth manner. No 55 personal memoirs by ulysses s grant 1885 the civil war general turned president was a reluctant author, but set the gold standard for presidential. He reminded twain that the military history of ulysses s. Grants memoirs comprise one of the most valuable writings by a military commander in history eicher 492.
Grant wrote his personal memoirs to secure his familys futureand won himself a unique place in american letters. The focus of the book is grants military careerhis service in the mexicanamerican war and the civil war. Acclaimed by writers as diverse as mark twain and gertrude stein, grants memoirs demonstrate the intelligence, intense determination, and laconic modesty that made him the unions foremost commander. Grants personal memoirs constitutes a vital historical and literary classic. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Written as grant was dying of cancer in 1885, the twovolume set was published by mark twain shortly after grant s death. The civil war general turned president was a reluctant.
Grant is a popular abridgment of his twovolume personal memoirs, which he arranged to have published to provide for his family after his death. Nov 01, 2007 completed just days before his death and hailed by mark twain as the most remarkable work of its kind since the commentaries of julius caesar, this is the nowlegendary autobiography of ulysses simpson grant 18221885, 18th president of the united states and the union general who led the north to victory in the civil war. Gallo, began work on an annotated version of the personal memoirs of ulysses s. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the civil war memoirs of ulysses s. The ghost that haunts grants memoirs the new york times. Completed just days before his death and hailed by mark twain as the most remarkable work of its kind since the commentaries of julius caesar, this is the nowlegendary autobiography of ulysses simpson grant 18221885, 18th president of the united states and the union general who led the north to victory in the civil war. Samet, is everything a work of popular scholarship should be. Possibly the best presidential memoir written, annotations by marszalek with david nolen and louis gallo illuminate and. He writes in a lean, spare style, providing the facts without throwing in a lot of ego. This is the best presidential memoir written, once earning praise from no less than mark twain grant wrote in a clear and logical style, much as he issued orders, which brings the daytoday challenges and tremors of war to his readership with never a suggestion of embellishment. Grant before tackling elizabeth samets work to annotate grants personal memoirs. The book is like new the pages are pristine and the book shows no wear. Grant wrote his personal memoirs to secure his familys future.
Henry adams, as he reports in his memoirs, was breathlessly waiting in the capitol. About personal memoirs one of the most unflinching studies of war in our literature. Grant, the 18th president of the united states, focused mainly on his military career during the mexicanamerican war and the american civil war, and completed as he was dying of throat cancer in 1885. For those military professionals seeking to emulate his deeds, it is interesting. Grant, moved the family to nearby georgetown, where he opened a tannery.
Grant has 148 books on goodreads with 25770 ratings. The book provides the reader with an understanding of the most perilous four years in united states history and the best model for an entire genre of literature. Later onevolume edition of grants memoirs, twice signed in pencil by confederate general fitzhugh lee. Though grant opens with tales of his boyhood, his education at. One of the most unflinching studies of war in our literature. Grant s memoirs are a mustread for any serious student of the civil war. Personal memoirs of u s grant, charles l webster company abebooks. This was part of a collection of books and nearly all of the library of america books appeared to be unread. Personal memoirs of u s grant, charles l webster company.
Grant succeeded where scores failed at similar command levels throughout the civil war. Jun 24, 2018 a panel of scholars discusses the memoirs of ulysses s. The best and most interesting part of the book is grants recollection of the civil war. Oct 04, 2012 i have an original book, published in 1885 personal memoirs of u. About personal memoirs the foremost military memoir in the english language, written in a clear, supple style. After all, the memoirs emphasize grants perspective. It was a huge bestseller and broke all records in american publishing at the time.
What is the value of ulysses s grant memoir first edition. A first hand account of history, yes, but also just a really good book. Personal memoirs by grant, ulysses and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Interesting factoid, discovered in the chernow book, was that mark twain was his publisher and the man that got grant to complete his memoirs. Stranger still, he barely acknowledged in his book that he had served two. Grant, the 18th president of the united states, focused mainly on his military career during the mexicanamerican war and the american civil war. Grant wrote his personal memoirs to secure his family s futureand won himself a. Grant grant s memoirs might be the finest that have ever been written by a president. Grants book is one of the best military memoirs i have ever read. It was very important that the editors allow grant to speak his mind and allow him, unencumbered, to express what he believed. In volume i, we learn of grants early life and education, his entry into the west point military academy, and what influenced his views on life and the situation of the united states as a nation. Grant, written by his wartime assistant, adam badeau, had sold poorly. Chernows book helped me put the personal memoirs in the larger context of grants entire life while samets annotations helped me place the personal memoirs in the larger context of the worlds military literature. One hundred and thirtythree years after its 1885 publication by mark twain, elizabeth samet has annotated this lavish edition of grants landmark memoir, and expands the civil war backdrop against which this monumental american life is.
Grants are lucid, compelling, and brutally honest, a chronicle of triumph and failure, from his boyhood, to his heroics in battle, to the grinding poverty from which the civil war ironically rescued him. Grant 1822 1885 in preparing these volumes for the public, i have. They were written as speed as grant sat on his porch with a scarf around his throat because he was dying of cancer and he had lost all his money and needed to do something to provide for an income for his wife. Grant s is certainly one of the finest, and it is arguably the most notable literary achievement of any american president. Their conversation is part of the annual summer conference hosted by the civil war institute at gettysburg college. This book contains the complete memoirs of the revered united states general and president, ulysses s. Free audio book that you can download in mp3, ipod and itunes format for your portable audio player. Personal memoirs by ulysses grant, first edition abebooks.
Grants memoirs were described by mark twain as the best memoirs ever written, better than julius caesars the old roman about the time of christ. Pdf personal memoirs of ulysses s grant download full. Ulysses simpson grant born hiram ulysses grant was generalinchief of the union army from 1864 to 1869 during the american civil war and the 18th president of the united states from 1869 to 1877. Samet has produced the most ambitious edition of ulysses grant s memoirs yet published.
Below are some observations about grants memoirs, and the common thread is an admiration for grants literary style. A panel of scholars discusses the memoirs of ulysses s. Grant, the 18th president of the united states, focused mainly on his military career during the mexican. Grant, volume 1 in grants writing inside the book it says these volumes are dedicated to the american soldiers and sailors. Dismiss the stories that mark twain or grants literary secretary secretly wrote the book while the general sat back inert. The book is deeply researched, but it introduces its scholarship with a. Personal memoirs is devoted almost entirely to his life as a soldier, tracing the trajectory of. It was to that end that i, ably assisted by david s. Grant was a man of integrity, who persevered despite personal and business reverses. Pdf personal memoirs of ulysses s grant download full pdf. This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion and a free quiz on personal memoirs of u. Ulysses simpson grant born hiram ulysses grant was an american soldier and statesman who served as commanding general of the army and the 18th president of the united states, the highest positions in the military and the government of the. I will listen to it over and over again because it s so chuck full of information presented in a down to earth manner. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the memoirs of general ulysses s.
Grant, including his original illustrations and maps. Grants is certainly one of the finest, and it is arguably the most notable literary achievement of any american president. His style is instantly familiar and utterly unique. William mcfeeley among the autobiographies of great military figures, ulysses s. His father was strict and had definite ideas about many things, including grant s education. The modern library civil war bookshelf 5book bundle. Ron chernow, in grant faced with cancer and financial ruin, ulysses s.
In doing so, the civil wars greatest general won himself a unique place in american letters. Grant, who was modest, sensitive, generous, honest, and superlatively intelligent. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Grant as the two volumes were titled when they first appeared in 18851886 has long been regarded as a. The project gutenberg ebook of personal memoirs of u. The son of an appalachian ohio tanner, grant entered the united states military academy at age 17. Grant has been highly regarded by military historians. Grant, joint resolution of congress, december 17, 1863 on front board.
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