First published 2008
Michael Korda tackles the contradictions of Ulysses S. Grant in this biography from Harper's "Eminent Lives" series. The author applies his narrative skills to a man who rose from humble origins as an Ohio tanner's son to become America's first four-star general since Washington and the only president between Jackson and Wilson to serve two full terms. Korda explores how Grant's determination carried him through early military setbacks and business failures to Civil War victory and the White House. The biography examines Grant's character, weighing his battlefield genius against his presidential struggles. While acknowledging the scandals that marked Grant's second term, Korda argues that the president provided stability to a nation healing from civil war. The book reconciles competing views of Grant's leadership, showing how the same qualities that made him a successful general both helped and hindered his political effectiveness. Korda offers a balanced assessment of a leader who guided America through a crucial period.
Genres: biography, history, 20th-century, american, 19th-century, american-history
Vibes: balanced, emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-figure, military-leader, political-leader
Setting: America, Ohio
Period: 19th-Century, 20th-Century
176 pages · Kindle Edition · HarperCollins Publishers