Edited by John F.
Marszalek
Famous for his military acumen and for his part in saving
the Union during the American Civil War, Ulysses S. Grant also remains known
for his two-volume memoirs, considered among the greatest military Memoirs
ever written. Grant’s other writings, however, have not received the same
acclaim, even though they show the same literary skill. Originally published in
the thirty-two volumes of The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant, the letters
and speeches are the major source of information about Grant’s life and era and
have played a key role in elevating his reputation to that of the leading
general of the Civil War and the first of the modern presidents. In this
collection, editor John F. Marszalek presents excerpts from Grant’s most
insightful and skillfully composed writings and provides perspective through
introductory comments tying each piece to the next. The result is a fascinating
overview of Grant’s life and career.
In sixteen chronological chapters, selections from Grant’s
letters and other writings reveal his personal thoughts on the major events of
his momentous life, including the start of the Civil War, the capture of
Vicksburg, Lincoln’s reelection, Lee’s surrender, his terms as president, the
Panic of 1873, and his bouts of mouth and throat cancer. Throughout, Grant’s
prose reveals clearly the power of his words and his ability to present them
well. Although some historians have maligned his presidency as one of the most
corrupt periods in American history, these writings reinforce Grant’s greatness
as a general, demonstrate the importance of his presidency, and show him to be
one of the driving forces of the nineteenth century.
With this compendium, Marszalek not only celebrates the
literary talent of one of America’s greatest military figures but also
vindicates an individual who, for so long, has been unfairly denigrated. A
concise reference for students of American history and Civil War enthusiasts as
well as a valuable introduction for those who are new to Grant’s writings, this
volume provides intriguing insight into one of the nineteenth century’s most
important Americans.
About the Author
John F. Marszalek is a Giles Distinguished Professor Emeritus of
History at Mississippi State University, the executive director of the Ulysses
S. Grant Association's Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library, Mississippi State
University, and the editor of ThePapers of Ulysses S. Grant. He is the
author or editor of sixteen books, including Sherman: A Soldier’s Passion
for Order.
ISBN 978-0809334117, Southern Illinois University Press, ©
2015, Hardcover, 232 pages, Photograph & Illustrations, Indexed.
$32.95. To purchase a copy of this book click HERE.
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