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A review by jedwardsusc
Grant by Ron Chernow
3.0
For the most part, I enjoyed the book. There's a lot of detail, and I'm not equipped to judge the accuracy of the research. I don't have a deep understanding of Grant or the Civil War, and I'm more ignorant of reconstruction than I have any right to be.
My main critique is that Chernow seems overly committed to reading every Grant choice and misstep in the most positive light. Many of those missteps were merely personal, but others had significant consequences for later generations. Some of that may just be correcting for previous, negative narratives, but it makes Grant seem more one-dimensional than I would expect from a biography this detailed.
My main critique is that Chernow seems overly committed to reading every Grant choice and misstep in the most positive light. Many of those missteps were merely personal, but others had significant consequences for later generations. Some of that may just be correcting for previous, negative narratives, but it makes Grant seem more one-dimensional than I would expect from a biography this detailed.