Faced with cancer and financial ruin, the Civil War's greatest general and former president, Ulysses S. Grant wrote his personal memoirs to secure his family's future. In doing so, he won himself a unique place in American letters. Acclaimed by writers as diverse as Mark Twain and Gertrude Stein, Grant's memoirs demonstrate the intelligence, intense determination, and laconic modesty that made him the Union's foremost commander. "Personal Memoirs" is devoted almost entirely to his life as a soldier. For their directness and clarity, his writings on war are without rival in American Literature.
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Destitute and wracked by throat cancer, Ulysses S. Grant finished writing his Personal Memoirs shortly before his death in 1885. Today their clear prose stands as a model of autobiography. Civil War soldiers are often celebrated for the high literary quality of the letters they sent home from the front lines; Grant's own book is probably the best piece of writing produced by a participant in the War Between the States. Apart from Lincoln, no man deserves more credit for securing the Northern victory than Grant, and this chronicle of campaigns and battles tells how he did it. (The book also made a bundle of money for his family, which had been reeling from the failure of Grant's brokerage firm.) This is not an overview of the entire Civil War; as the North was beating the South on the third day of Gettysburg, for example, Grant was in Mississippi capturing Vicksburg. But it is a great piece of writing, one that can be appreciated even by readers with little interest in military history. --John J. Miller
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
Review
"The best [memoirs] of any general's since Caesar." --Mark Twain
"A unique expression of the national character....[Grant] has conveyed the suspense which was felt by himself and his army and by all who believed in the Union cause. The reader finds himself...on edge toknow how the Civil War is coming out." --Edmund Wilson --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
"A unique expression of the national character....[Grant] has conveyed the suspense which was felt by himself and his army and by all who believed in the Union cause. The reader finds himself...on edge toknow how the Civil War is coming out." --Edmund Wilson --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
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My family is American, and has been for generations, in all its branches, direct and collateral. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
My family is American, and has been for generations, in all its branches, direct and collateral. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
A classic. The amount of detail and the feel it gives you for life at that time is pretty astounding. Led me to purchase William T. Sherman memoir.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Alex Frantz
Format:Paperback
Grant here gives a consistently interesting account of his role in many of the major campaigns of the Civil War. His prose is clear and his accounts of battles and strategies quite readable, even to those without particular expertise in military history. He sticks to the story, making few attempts to even scores with his numerous critics in the Army or the press.
One thing that should be noted is that these 'personal memoirs' are in many ways remarkably impersonal. There is only a quite brief account of Grant's youth, and his wife, to whom he was apparently quite devoted, is barely mentioned. Grant tells the story of his career as an officer with increasing levels of responsibility, but says little about himself. Also, the memoirs end with the assassination of Lincoln, and do not at all discuss his presidency.
The edition I read was lacking in maps, which was a serious drawback, however it was a different edition than the one discussed here. Because so much of the book focuses on the tactics of specific campaigns, a good set of maps is a very valuable addition, and would be advisable to check for in any edition you consider reading or buying.
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I'm not a Civil War or military fan, but I really enjoyed reading these memoires. I expected a very dry book, but General Grant provides a great narrative, slipping in a sly sense of humor at times. My recommendation is that the publishers provide better maps. I needed to use an atlas and detailed maps off the internet.
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4.6 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the better Civil War memoirs
One of the nice things Grant does in his book, is break down ranks using a horizantal flow chart on various pages. This helps clear confusion for the novice. Read more
Published on Jun 18 2003 by Lamont G. Sible Jr.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Old wine in new bottles
I'm a little irritated at the usually terrific Modern Library. They have hatched a new series of volumes on "War", with a general introduction by Caleb Carr. Read more
Published on Mar 23 2002 by John J. Ross
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great American History from two great Americans
This book is alive! How many 125 year old books are still page turners? This one is. This was Grant's last great effort (and ghost-written with Mark Twain). What could be better? Read more
Published on Aug 24 2001 by Mark A. Tusken
5.0 out of 5 stars
Powerful and Moving
A must read for all Civil War buffs and those even remotely interested in history. The 600+ pages in this book (both volume I and II are included together) articulately spell out... Read more
Published on Aug 11 2001 by JD Cetola
5.0 out of 5 stars
A book valuable to contemplate
Civl War afficianados will be fascinated by Grant's detailed discussion of battles. The general reader will find value in the discovery of General Grant's personality. Read more
Published on Feb 25 2001 by Jon R. Schlueter
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the Best Books Available on the Civil War
I have never been much of a Civil War fan, but after reading "The Killer Angels" by Shaara, a historical fiction about Gettysburg, I was interested in following up with... Read more
Published on Dec 5 2000 by Fred
5.0 out of 5 stars
Compelling, Humble and Well-Written
Grant's memoirs are a must-read for any serious student of the Civil War. While praise is heaped upon Confederate generals such as Lee and Jackson, Grant's legacy has always been a... Read more
Published on Oct 9 2000 by J. Mullin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Compelling from start to end
Almost without funds Ulysses S. Grant was aware that on his death from throat cancer his family would find themselves in a serious financial crisis - thus developed the impetus for... Read more
Published on July 17 2000 by Simon Jackson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Now That's A President
There's a natural tendency when reading a presidential autobiography to compare the subject to the current leader. Read more
Published on Mar 3 2000 by Steven Fantina
5.0 out of 5 stars
American peace process
Grant thought the war with Mexico was deceitful aggression, but he served America honorably. With Sherman's help he came to understand what the Civil war was about and how it had... Read more
Published on Jan 7 2000 by Wallace F. Smith
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