NF Ron Chernow's "Grant" reviews

[MaryDee]

This thread is for pre-release reviews of Ron Chernow's new biography, Grant.

Per amazon, the release date is October 10 https://www.amazon.com/dp/159420487X/?tag=civilwartalkc-20

Of course book reviewers get advance copies. So far, I've only seen this review in the New Yorker:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/10/02/pour-one-out-for-ulysses-s-grant
The review is lengthy enough to give a pretty thorough description of the book. I'd like to see some reviews written by historians, though.
I haven't quite decided whether to order the book or wait for the musical!

 

[Mild53]

A musical about Grant is a perfect pun - didn't the man say he was tone deaf!

 

[Jimklag]

This thread is for pre-release reviews of Ron Chernow's new biography, Grant.

Per amazon, the release date is October 10 https://www.amazon.com/dp/159420487X/?tag=civilwartalkc-20

Of course book reviewers get advance copies. So far, I've only seen this review in the New Yorker:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/10/02/pour-one-out-for-ulysses-s-grant
The review is lengthy enough to give a pretty thorough description of the book. I'd like to see some reviews written by historians, though.
I haven't quite decided whether to order the book or wait for the musical!

I have my pre-order in and I'm waiting impatiently to get my copy of Grant.

 

[wausaubob]

Gopnik and by extension, Chernow, are OK.

 

[wausaubob]

Outside of his family, Grant's closest friends included Sherman and Clemens.
But no one had a personal relationship with Lincoln, shook hands with a Lakota chief, and walked to Bismark's headquarters except Grant.

 

[W. Richardson]

"his book aims to rehabilitate Grant as a politician'

Tells me all I need to know. An attempt to "clean" Grant up.................


Respectfully,
William

 

[Bruce Vail]

I just read the The New Yorker review and Ron Chernow's agent can't be happy (expensive ads for Chernow's book have been appearing in The New Yorker for months).

The review is respectful of Chernow's work but it is not enthusiastic. The reviewer seems undecided whether Grant was a great general, or merely a lucky general. Grant is given full credit for his aggressive efforts as president to suppress the KKK, but no other positive aspects of his presidency are mentioned (unless you count Chernow's weird observation that Grant had a good affirmative action policy for hiring low-level federal jobholders) in the review.

Like MaryDee, I'm anxious to see the rest of reviews, particularly from some of our better-known Civil War/Reconstruction historians.

Chernow is a little bit at a disadvantage with the high-end reviewers. He first made his name as an apologist for the Robber Barons with his books on J.P. Morgan and John D. Rockefeller, and was over praised for his Hamilton book. I suspect that we will be seeing some high-profile reviews intended to cut Chernow down to size a little.

 

[Bruce Vail]

Adam Gopnick's New Yorker review dwells on Grant as a "corporate" general, which is sure to enrage the Grant lovers at CWT and give quiet satisfaction to the admirers of Gen. Lee. This element of the book deserves a thread of its own...

 

[Mild53]

"his book aims to rehabilitate Grant as a politician'

Tells me all I need to know. An attempt to "clean" Grant up.................


Respectfully,
William
View attachment 159279

I think I'll read it before I decide if it is biased. I found Chernov's work on Washington, really, really informative. A good story balanced between the man's warts and the sacrifices made for all of us.

 

[wausaubob]

The review is worthy of the reviewer and the New Yorker.

 

[wausaubob]

The reviewer could have explicitly commentated on the issue of whether a country that experienced an absolute explosion of violent crime during Prohibition should give up its hypocrisy of making alcohol consumption a political issue.
Enforced temperance got its trial and was soundly rejected.

 

[W. Richardson]

I think I'll read it before I decide if it is biased. I found Chernov's work on Washington, really, really informative. A good story balanced between the man's warts and the sacrifices made for all of us.

Oh I will probably read it as well, but I really ask, what unknown information about Grant is there that can be added in this book? Other than trying to flip him in a more positive view............ie cleaning him up for history. Grant is Grant, not a great business man, one of the greatest American generals of all time, and my most respected Union general, and then we have his presidency, not great, not bad, but in the range of okay to almost good....................Grant, like everyone else has his faults.....................


Respectfully,
William

 

[Jimklag]

Oh I will probably read it as well, but I really ask, what unknown information about Grant is there that can be added in this book? Other than trying to flip him in a more positive view............ie cleaning him up for history. Grant is Grant, not a great business man, one of the greatest American generals of all time, and my most respected Union general, and then we have his presidency, not great, not bad, but in the range of okay to almost good....................Grant, like everyone else has his faults.....................


Respectfully,
William
View attachment 159359

Well said, William. Chernow's previous biographies lead me to believe that the bit in the review about rehabilitating Grant was from the reviewer's pen. Chernow's biographies of Hamilton and Washington were scrupulously even handed and I expect nothing less from the new book

 

[Bruce Vail]

Well said, William. Chernow's previous biographies lead me to believe that the bit in the review about rehabilitating Grant was from the reviewer's pen. Chernow's biographies of Hamilton and Washington were scrupulously even handed and I expect nothing less from the new book

I doubt Chernow intends to single-handedly rehabilitate Grant. It's too hard a task for someone devoted to the "on-the-one-hand-this, and the-other-hand-that" school of 'even-handedness.'

Gopnicks' review suffers from a failure to pay attention to the book itself, and concentrates instead on Gopnick's own ideas about politics, past and present.

 

[wausaubob]

What new information could be added?
I think he has clear puritan streak, which puts in the line of Oliver Cromwell.
I think Sherman captures this when referring to Grant's complete faith in final victory.
John Schofield agreed when saying that Grant's secret was the utter simplicity of his character.
Both Grant and Sherman were grasping for the essence of Napoleon's theory of war.
Get a good bunch of Napoleon quotes and you will see the essence is a concentration on logistics and morale.
As for the ethics of war, the three of them agree. War is hell. Fight a war intensely and let fate decide the winner as soon as possible.

 

[Jazzeum]

After White's book, I'm wondering how much we really need another book on Grant. I've never been a big fan of Chernow's writing or big overblown biographies.

 

[wausaubob]

After reading and listening to several Grant biographies, I think the biographers fail to appreciate the patience and skill with which handled the chaotic period between Sumter and early August 1861.
In particular, the effect of the untimely death of Steven A. Douglas on politics in Illinois and Missouri is underestimated.
Each political player in Illinois had new opportunities when Douglas died.
I think the biographers miss how many close contingent decisions there were in reorganizing the command structure in the east.
I think we miss how close Grant and McCellan were throughout the war and how well they hid it from Lincoln and from history.

 

[DanSBHawk]

What new information could be added?
I think he has clear puritan streak, which puts in the line of Oliver Cromwell.
I think Sherman captures this when referring to Grant's complete faith in final victory.
John Schofield agreed when saying that Grant's secret was the utter simplicity of his character.
Both Grant and Sherman were grasping for the essence of Napoleon's theory of war.
Get a good bunch of Napoleon quotes and you will see the essence is a concentration on logistics and morale.
As for the ethics of war, the three of them agree. War is hell. Fight a war intensely and let fate decide the winner as soon as possible.

I think Grant was more of a Zachary Taylor fan than a Napoleon fan.

 

[wausaubob]

The essence of Napoleon was the use of time, attention to the primitive logistics of the time and morale.
Lots of people can do the showmanship part of the Napoleonic reputation.
Few people realized how he was updating a few simple concepts.

 

[Bruce Vail]

After White's book, I'm wondering how much we really need another book on Grant. I've never been a big fan of Chernow's writing or big overblown biographies.

I'm sure White's book will be receiving some new attention now.

To answer your question, "No" we don't need another Grant biography now, and we didn't need new Washington or Hamilton bios (from Chernow) either. His choice of subjects is mysterious to me: Why not choose someone lesser known and under appreciated?