Grant: A Biography

Rating:
Summary: Very Poor
Review: Well wrtten but its supposed to be history not literature.Conclusions reached show either a complete lack of understanding of military history or a complete lack of understanding of human nature.I would not waste time on it unless you want to find reasons to dislike Grant.

Rating:
Summary: An objective look at Grant--with all his many faces
Review: William S. McFeely's book Grant attempts to be an objective look at the life of one of the most well-known of US generals. It is a good account, full of details into Grant's life and quick to dispel many of the popular myths (both positive and negative) which have been spread about the general. The treatment of the Civil War does not take up the majority of the work, but instead comprises a part of the career of a man who went from tanner to army man to President to writer, with various stints as a failed businessman and bored peacetime army officer in between.

In his quest for objectivity, I think McFeely has overstepped his bounds just a bit. He greatly downplays Lincoln's affection for Grant, claiming that the President was never quite sure if he could trust the general. Early on, this may have been true, but the fact is that Lincoln many times defended Grant when rumors came to his ear, saying he liked Grant because "he fights." Also, McFeely calls Grant's wilderness campaign a "hideous disaster," and insinuates that Grant did not care much about the colossal loss of life at Cold Harbor. The overwhelming fact about the Wilderness Campaign is that it was, indeed, very costly in terms of human life. Still, Grant got things done. He defeated Lee--something McClellan and the other commanding officers could not do. Grant did what he had to do, terrible though it was.

Still, these are matters of opinion, and the book remains a wonderful treatment of Grant. One of the things I like most is that is gives equal treatment to all aspects of Grant's life, not just the Civil War. I learned a great deal about the Grant administration, which is usually regarded as one of the most corrupt in our nation's history. That may be true, but McFeely convincingly argues that not all of it was Grant's fault.

Overall, this is a great work on Grant. It has its flaws, but it still remains an adequate overview of this man's life, and should provide a good companion to Grant's personal memoirs. I would recommend this book to anyone studying the Civil War, as it gives a great account of Grant's part, though it lacks details (which can be obtained in other studies of the War itself). This would be a great addition to any Civil War library, as well as a good book for anyone studying American History as a whole.

Rating:
Summary: An objective look at Grant--with all his many faces
Review: William S. McFeely's book Grant attempts to be an objective look at the life of one of the most well-known of US generals. It is a good account, full of details into Grant's life and quick to dispel many of the popular myths (both positive and negative) which have been spread about the general. The treatment of the Civil War does not take up the majority of the work, but instead comprises a part of the career of a man who went from tanner to army man to President to writer, with various stints as a failed businessman and bored peacetime army officer in between.

In his quest for objectivity, I think McFeely has overstepped his bounds just a bit. He greatly downplays Lincoln's affection for Grant, claiming that the President was never quite sure if he could trust the general. Early on, this may have been true, but the fact is that Lincoln many times defended Grant when rumors came to his ear, saying he liked Grant because "he fights." Also, McFeely calls Grant's wilderness campaign a "hideous disaster," and insinuates that Grant did not care much about the colossal loss of life at Cold Harbor. The overwhelming fact about the Wilderness Campaign is that it was, indeed, very costly in terms of human life. Still, Grant got things done. He defeated Lee--something McClellan and the other commanding officers could not do. Grant did what he had to do, terrible though it was.

Still, these are matters of opinion, and the book remains a wonderful treatment of Grant. One of the things I like most is that is gives equal treatment to all aspects of Grant's life, not just the Civil War. I learned a great deal about the Grant administration, which is usually regarded as one of the most corrupt in our nation's history. That may be true, but McFeely convincingly argues that not all of it was Grant's fault.

Overall, this is a great work on Grant. It has its flaws, but it still remains an adequate overview of this man's life, and should provide a good companion to Grant's personal memoirs. I would recommend this book to anyone studying the Civil War, as it gives a great account of Grant's part, though it lacks details (which can be obtained in other studies of the War itself). This would be a great addition to any Civil War library, as well as a

Rating:
Summary: True to Grant, this biography is straight forward,
Review: with no pretense & easy to understand. It is also a whole life biography rather than the well trod grounds of Grant, the general or Grant, the president. They are an important part of the biography, to be sure, but there is so much before & after that is less known.
The point is made several times By Mr. McFeely that if there had been no Civil War there would have been no Grant. That is, he was a loser & would have been a nobody. It seems to bother the author that it takes the horrors of war to raise some men above others. However, Grant is not the only person that the Civil War elevated to greatness. Grant also knew this but didn't dwell on it enough apparently for Mr. McFeely liking. He was what he was.
Grant disliked his West Point years & was indifferent to the military as a peacetime career. But he was good at war. What he wasn't, was rich & he spent his time before the war & after his presidency chasing get rich quick schemes. They all failed. Ironically, writing about the war revealed a hidden talent. His memoirs written at the end of his life made Julia a very wealthy widow. The long streaches concerning the scandals & corruption in his presidency are tedious at times. He was basically an honest man who didn't know how to stop it. His dream of annexing the Dominican Republic as a state & his plans for Reconstruction were abysmal failures. Especially interesting was his 26 month around the world tour after his eight years as president. He came back too soon & attempted to recapture the presidency in 1880 after a four year absence. But although he was was still loved & revered by most Americans there was no groundswell for him to return to the White House. His years in the White House were not his finest hour. Sort of "thanks but no thanks."
Mr. Riggenbach's narration was just right & lent itself to long periods of listening without fatigue.