Grant

Grant by Ron Chernow presents a dramatic and thoroughly researched portrait of one of America's most compelling generals and presidents, Ulysses S. Grant. This monumental biography comes from Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ron Chernow, whose previous work inspired the groundbreaking musical Hamilton. As late as April 1861, when the American Civil War erupted, Ulysses S. Grant was considered a dismal failure. Having served competently in the Mexican-American War, Grant resigned from the army due to struggles with alcohol and subsequently plunged into poverty. As a civilian, he lost all his money in hopeless investments and found himself unable to secure the command of a volunteer unit. On the verge of returning to his meagre existence working in his family's leather-goods store, Grant was unexpectedly offered the colonelcy of an Illinois regiment. Remarkably, within less than four years, he rose to become the commanding general of the victorious Union armies, hailed as a military genius. Grant not only recounts Grant's meteoric rise from obscurity to the apex of power but also delves deeply into his post-war years, where he served two terms as President of the United States. This story is one of resilience and redemption, of a modest, reticent, and principled man who defied his detractors and ultimately changed the world for the better. Chernow's exhaustive research sheds light on Grant's complex character, offering new perspectives on his leadership and legacy. The author examines Grant's personal struggles, his controversies, and triumphs, painting a vivid portrait of a very unheroic American hero. Grant is an epic biography that will appeal to readers interested in American history, military strategy, and presidential politics, inviting them to discover a nuanced and detailed understanding of one of the nation's most significant figures.