Grant Chernow's Grant Redux

[contestedground]

Any more feedback/reaction to the Chernow biography of Grant?

Let's try to keep it on topic. There are other threads (and other opportunities to make threads) for people who want to share their views on other subjects. Thank you.

 

[wausaubob]

I think there is a youtube clip of Chernow talking on a CBS morning show about his most recent book. Mr. Chernow is a good interview subject, whether one agrees with his conclusions or not.

 

[5fish]

I moved this from another thread he does make for a good guest...

Since every thread about Ron Chernow is closed except this one... Ron Chernow was on the radio show called "On Point"...
It is worth a listen not just about Grant but he goes into Lee, Reconstruction and more... He makes an impressive guest... Here is the link...

http://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2017/11/02/ron-chernow-on-ulysses-s-grant


Enjoy....

 

[Bee]

I want to note something that has tied me up a couple of times: Chernow uses a method of transporting retrospective back in time to be presented as contemporary opinions of Grant. An example:

Grant's soon-be-brother-in-law Michael John Cramer confirmed that "as the war progressed [Grant] became gradually convinced that 'slavery was doomed an must go' He had always recognized its moral evil, as also its being the cause of the war...hence General Grant came to look upon the war "as a divine punishment for the sin of slavery"[3] Ron Chernow, Grant, [p 243]

[3] Cramer, Ulysses S Grant, 106
​

Like all people, Grant had much time to ruminate before his wrote his memoirs, thus, he was able to recognize and process thoughts, etc. I feel that at times, Chernow conflates the words of the older, wiser Grant, with the contemporary Grant that he is writing about. I had to consult outside help with this, because I started to question my own awareness about what "Grant thought" about this and that at the time.