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  <title><![CDATA[Grant]]></title>
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  <description><![CDATA[Hiram Ulysses Grant--mistakenly enrolled in the United States Military  Academy as Ulysses Simpson Grant, and so known ever since--was a failure in many  of the things to which he turned his hand. An indifferent, somewhat  undisciplined cadet who showed talent for mathematics and painting, he served  with unexpected distinction in the U.S. war against Mexico, then repeatedly went  broke as a real-estate speculator, freighter, and farmer. His reputation was  restored in the Civil War, in which he fulfilled a homespun philosophy of  battle: &quot;Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him  as hard as you can and as often as you can, and keep moving on.&quot; Given to dark  moods and the solace of the bottle (although far less so than his political foes  made him out to be), Grant was ferocious in war, but chivalrous in peace, and  offered generous terms to the defeated armies of Robert E. Lee. His enemies on  the battlefield of politics showed him little honor, and they had a point:  Grant's presidency was marked by a legion of corrupt lieutenants and hangers-on  who built their fortunes on the back of a suffering people, and for whose  actions Grant's reputation long has suffered.<p>  Recent history has been kinder to Grant than were the chroniclers of his day,  not only for his undoubted abilities as a military leader, but also for his  conduct as a president who sought to rebuild a shattered nation.  Jean Edward  Smith, the author of fine biographies of  John Marshall and Lucius D.  Clay, offers compelling reasons to accept this program of revision, while  acknowledging the shortcomings of Grant's administration. Surely and  thoughtfully written, this sprawling but swiftly moving book stands as a true  hallmark in the literature that is devoted to Grant. <em>--Gregory McNamee</em></p>]]></description>
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    <author>
    <id>191016</id>
        <name><![CDATA[Jean Edward Smith]]></name>
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    <![CDATA[Grant]]>
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    <![CDATA[Hiram Ulysses Grant--mistakenly enrolled in the United States Military  Academy as Ulysses Simpson Grant, and so known ever since--was a failure in many  of the things to which he turned his hand. An indifferent, somewhat  undisciplined cadet who showed talent for mathematics and painting, he served  with unexpected distinction in the U.S. war against Mexico, then repeatedly went  broke as a real-estate speculator, freighter, and farmer. His reputation was  restored in the Civil War, in which he fulfilled a homespun philosophy of  battle: &quot;Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him  as hard as you can and as often as you can, and keep moving on.&quot; Given to dark  moods and the solace of the bottle (although far less so than his political foes  made him out to be), Grant was ferocious in war, but chivalrous in peace, and  offered generous terms to the defeated armies of Robert E. Lee. His enemies on  the battlefield of politics showed him little honor, and they had a point:  Grant's presidency was marked by a legion of corrupt lieutenants and hangers-on  who built their fortunes on the back of a suffering people, and for whose  actions Grant's reputation long has suffered.<p>  Recent history has been kinder to Grant than were the chroniclers of his day,  not only for his undoubted abilities as a military leader, but also for his  conduct as a president who sought to rebuild a shattered nation.  Jean Edward  Smith, the author of fine biographies of  John Marshall and Lucius D.  Clay, offers compelling reasons to accept this program of revision, while  acknowledging the shortcomings of Grant's administration. Surely and  thoughtfully written, this sprawling but swiftly moving book stands as a true  hallmark in the literature that is devoted to Grant. <em>--Gregory McNamee</em></p>]]>
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    <rating>4</rating>
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  <read_at>Sat Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
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    <body><![CDATA[Ulysses S. Grant may not have been a great president, but he was far better a president than I had ever before recognized, and he was unquestionably a great general, great American, and perhaps a great human being.  I don't write off moral shortcomings of historical figures by claiming that &quot;yo...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/41335908">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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    <![CDATA[Grant]]>
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    <![CDATA[Hiram Ulysses Grant--mistakenly enrolled in the United States Military  Academy as Ulysses Simpson Grant, and so known ever since--was a failure in many  of the things to which he turned his hand. An indifferent, somewhat  undisciplined cadet who showed talent for mathematics and painting, he served  with unexpected distinction in the U.S. war against Mexico, then repeatedly went  broke as a real-estate speculator, freighter, and farmer. His reputation was  restored in the Civil War, in which he fulfilled a homespun philosophy of  battle: &quot;Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him  as hard as you can and as often as you can, and keep moving on.&quot; Given to dark  moods and the solace of the bottle (although far less so than his political foes  made him out to be), Grant was ferocious in war, but chivalrous in peace, and  offered generous terms to the defeated armies of Robert E. Lee. His enemies on  the battlefield of politics showed him little honor, and they had a point:  Grant's presidency was marked by a legion of corrupt lieutenants and hangers-on  who built their fortunes on the back of a suffering people, and for whose  actions Grant's reputation long has suffered.<p>  Recent history has been kinder to Grant than were the chroniclers of his day,  not only for his undoubted abilities as a military leader, but also for his  conduct as a president who sought to rebuild a shattered nation.  Jean Edward  Smith, the author of fine biographies of  John Marshall and Lucius D.  Clay, offers compelling reasons to accept this program of revision, while  acknowledging the shortcomings of Grant's administration. Surely and  thoughtfully written, this sprawling but swiftly moving book stands as a true  hallmark in the literature that is devoted to Grant. <em>--Gregory McNamee</em></p>]]>
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    <rating>5</rating>
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  <date_added>Thu May 07 07:29:47 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu May 07 07:34:29 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Grant was actually one of our better presidents as Smith makes sure the reader becomes aware of. He was actually the first presdient to promote civil rights, among other things. True, his first term was mired in corruption, but he cleaned his administration up for the second and actually made some a...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/55249918">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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      <review>
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    <![CDATA[Grant]]>
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  <average_rating>4.30</average_rating>
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    <![CDATA[Hiram Ulysses Grant--mistakenly enrolled in the United States Military  Academy as Ulysses Simpson Grant, and so known ever since--was a failure in many  of the things to which he turned his hand. An indifferent, somewhat  undisciplined cadet who showed talent for mathematics and painting, he served  with unexpected distinction in the U.S. war against Mexico, then repeatedly went  broke as a real-estate speculator, freighter, and farmer. His reputation was  restored in the Civil War, in which he fulfilled a homespun philosophy of  battle: &quot;Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him  as hard as you can and as often as you can, and keep moving on.&quot; Given to dark  moods and the solace of the bottle (although far less so than his political foes  made him out to be), Grant was ferocious in war, but chivalrous in peace, and  offered generous terms to the defeated armies of Robert E. Lee. His enemies on  the battlefield of politics showed him little honor, and they had a point:  Grant's presidency was marked by a legion of corrupt lieutenants and hangers-on  who built their fortunes on the back of a suffering people, and for whose  actions Grant's reputation long has suffered.<p>  Recent history has been kinder to Grant than were the chroniclers of his day,  not only for his undoubted abilities as a military leader, but also for his  conduct as a president who sought to rebuild a shattered nation.  Jean Edward  Smith, the author of fine biographies of  John Marshall and Lucius D.  Clay, offers compelling reasons to accept this program of revision, while  acknowledging the shortcomings of Grant's administration. Surely and  thoughtfully written, this sprawling but swiftly moving book stands as a true  hallmark in the literature that is devoted to Grant. <em>--Gregory McNamee</em></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2001</published>
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    <rating>5</rating>
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  <read_at>Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Mar 09 07:42:45 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Apr 01 18:45:15 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[This highly-readable tome is a fine biography for a man many recognize as a great general but a less-than-spectacular president.  Smith disagrees with this notion and while he does not excuse all of Grant's flaws, he does play up some of the greater accomplishments of Grant's presidency, such as his...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/48684078">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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      <review>
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    <name><![CDATA[Ed ]]></name>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Grant]]>
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  <average_rating>4.30</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>47</ratings_count>
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    <![CDATA[Hiram Ulysses Grant--mistakenly enrolled in the United States Military  Academy as Ulysses Simpson Grant, and so known ever since--was a failure in many  of the things to which he turned his hand. An indifferent, somewhat  undisciplined cadet who showed talent for mathematics and painting, he served  with unexpected distinction in the U.S. war against Mexico, then repeatedly went  broke as a real-estate speculator, freighter, and farmer. His reputation was  restored in the Civil War, in which he fulfilled a homespun philosophy of  battle: &quot;Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him  as hard as you can and as often as you can, and keep moving on.&quot; Given to dark  moods and the solace of the bottle (although far less so than his political foes  made him out to be), Grant was ferocious in war, but chivalrous in peace, and  offered generous terms to the defeated armies of Robert E. Lee. His enemies on  the battlefield of politics showed him little honor, and they had a point:  Grant's presidency was marked by a legion of corrupt lieutenants and hangers-on  who built their fortunes on the back of a suffering people, and for whose  actions Grant's reputation long has suffered.<p>  Recent history has been kinder to Grant than were the chroniclers of his day,  not only for his undoubted abilities as a military leader, but also for his  conduct as a president who sought to rebuild a shattered nation.  Jean Edward  Smith, the author of fine biographies of  John Marshall and Lucius D.  Clay, offers compelling reasons to accept this program of revision, while  acknowledging the shortcomings of Grant's administration. Surely and  thoughtfully written, this sprawling but swiftly moving book stands as a true  hallmark in the literature that is devoted to Grant. <em>--Gregory McNamee</em></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2001</published>
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    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <date_added>Fri Dec 19 05:45:43 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Feb 01 18:06:18 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Abraham Lincoln was the President the nation needed at its darkest hour, the beginning of the Civil War and Grant was the general that Lincoln needed to win that war. Smith covers Grant's leadership, first in the west then as general of the army and defacto commander of the Army of the Potomac with ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/40446476">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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      <review>
  <id>34606505</id>
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    <name><![CDATA[Matt]]></name>
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    <![CDATA[Grant]]>
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  <average_rating>4.30</average_rating>
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    <![CDATA[Hiram Ulysses Grant--mistakenly enrolled in the United States Military  Academy as Ulysses Simpson Grant, and so known ever since--was a failure in many  of the things to which he turned his hand. An indifferent, somewhat  undisciplined cadet who showed talent for mathematics and painting, he served  with unexpected distinction in the U.S. war against Mexico, then repeatedly went  broke as a real-estate speculator, freighter, and farmer. His reputation was  restored in the Civil War, in which he fulfilled a homespun philosophy of  battle: &quot;Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him  as hard as you can and as often as you can, and keep moving on.&quot; Given to dark  moods and the solace of the bottle (although far less so than his political foes  made him out to be), Grant was ferocious in war, but chivalrous in peace, and  offered generous terms to the defeated armies of Robert E. Lee. His enemies on  the battlefield of politics showed him little honor, and they had a point:  Grant's presidency was marked by a legion of corrupt lieutenants and hangers-on  who built their fortunes on the back of a suffering people, and for whose  actions Grant's reputation long has suffered.<p>  Recent history has been kinder to Grant than were the chroniclers of his day,  not only for his undoubted abilities as a military leader, but also for his  conduct as a president who sought to rebuild a shattered nation.  Jean Edward  Smith, the author of fine biographies of  John Marshall and Lucius D.  Clay, offers compelling reasons to accept this program of revision, while  acknowledging the shortcomings of Grant's administration. Surely and  thoughtfully written, this sprawling but swiftly moving book stands as a true  hallmark in the literature that is devoted to Grant. <em>--Gregory McNamee</em></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2001</published>
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    <rating>5</rating>
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  <read_at>Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2001</read_at>
  <date_added>Sun Oct 05 17:32:04 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Oct 24 19:48:55 -0700 2008</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[Grant is one of my heroes.  Historically, Grant has been a last place finisher in presidential ranking contests.  I think he is getting a well-deserved upgrade in the eyes of history, thanks in part to historians like Smith.  Smith makes a compelling argument that the early history on Grant was writ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/34606505">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/34606505]]></url>
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      <review>
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    <![CDATA[Grant]]>
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    <![CDATA[Hiram Ulysses Grant--mistakenly enrolled in the United States Military  Academy as Ulysses Simpson Grant, and so known ever since--was a failure in many  of the things to which he turned his hand. An indifferent, somewhat  undisciplined cadet who showed talent for mathematics and painting, he served  with unexpected distinction in the U.S. war against Mexico, then repeatedly went  broke as a real-estate speculator, freighter, and farmer. His reputation was  restored in the Civil War, in which he fulfilled a homespun philosophy of  battle: &quot;Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him  as hard as you can and as often as you can, and keep moving on.&quot; Given to dark  moods and the solace of the bottle (although far less so than his political foes  made him out to be), Grant was ferocious in war, but chivalrous in peace, and  offered generous terms to the defeated armies of Robert E. Lee. His enemies on  the battlefield of politics showed him little honor, and they had a point:  Grant's presidency was marked by a legion of corrupt lieutenants and hangers-on  who built their fortunes on the back of a suffering people, and for whose  actions Grant's reputation long has suffered.<p>  Recent history has been kinder to Grant than were the chroniclers of his day,  not only for his undoubted abilities as a military leader, but also for his  conduct as a president who sought to rebuild a shattered nation.  Jean Edward  Smith, the author of fine biographies of  John Marshall and Lucius D.  Clay, offers compelling reasons to accept this program of revision, while  acknowledging the shortcomings of Grant's administration. Surely and  thoughtfully written, this sprawling but swiftly moving book stands as a true  hallmark in the literature that is devoted to Grant. <em>--Gregory McNamee</em></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2001</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Mon Dec 15 00:00:00 -0800 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Jan 01 07:54:32 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Jan 01 07:55:57 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Great read on interesting president.  After reading, I feel I share Grant's biggest flaw - a persistent trust that everyone around him was doing their job as well as he was.  And it wasn't usually the case.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/41483384]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/41483384]]></link>
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      <review>
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  <text_reviews_count type="integer">15</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Grant]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1177924853m/742882.jpg</image_url>
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  <average_rating>4.30</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>47</ratings_count>
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    <![CDATA[Hiram Ulysses Grant--mistakenly enrolled in the United States Military  Academy as Ulysses Simpson Grant, and so known ever since--was a failure in many  of the things to which he turned his hand. An indifferent, somewhat  undisciplined cadet who showed talent for mathematics and painting, he served  with unexpected distinction in the U.S. war against Mexico, then repeatedly went  broke as a real-estate speculator, freighter, and farmer. His reputation was  restored in the Civil War, in which he fulfilled a homespun philosophy of  battle: &quot;Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him  as hard as you can and as often as you can, and keep moving on.&quot; Given to dark  moods and the solace of the bottle (although far less so than his political foes  made him out to be), Grant was ferocious in war, but chivalrous in peace, and  offered generous terms to the defeated armies of Robert E. Lee. His enemies on  the battlefield of politics showed him little honor, and they had a point:  Grant's presidency was marked by a legion of corrupt lieutenants and hangers-on  who built their fortunes on the back of a suffering people, and for whose  actions Grant's reputation long has suffered.<p>  Recent history has been kinder to Grant than were the chroniclers of his day,  not only for his undoubted abilities as a military leader, but also for his  conduct as a president who sought to rebuild a shattered nation.  Jean Edward  Smith, the author of fine biographies of  John Marshall and Lucius D.  Clay, offers compelling reasons to accept this program of revision, while  acknowledging the shortcomings of Grant's administration. Surely and  thoughtfully written, this sprawling but swiftly moving book stands as a true  hallmark in the literature that is devoted to Grant. <em>--Gregory McNamee</em></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2001</published>
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    <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <read_at>Sat Jan 24 00:00:00 -0800 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Sep 11 17:59:19 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Sep 11 18:00:09 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Gives a very positive image of Grant and makes you feel he is underrated as a president.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/70902648]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/70902648]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>50007487</id>
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    <name><![CDATA[Armen]]></name>
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  <text_reviews_count type="integer">15</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Grant]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1177924853m/742882.jpg</image_url>
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  <average_rating>4.30</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>47</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Hiram Ulysses Grant--mistakenly enrolled in the United States Military  Academy as Ulysses Simpson Grant, and so known ever since--was a failure in many  of the things to which he turned his hand. An indifferent, somewhat  undisciplined cadet who showed talent for mathematics and painting, he served  with unexpected distinction in the U.S. war against Mexico, then repeatedly went  broke as a real-estate speculator, freighter, and farmer. His reputation was  restored in the Civil War, in which he fulfilled a homespun philosophy of  battle: &quot;Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him  as hard as you can and as often as you can, and keep moving on.&quot; Given to dark  moods and the solace of the bottle (although far less so than his political foes  made him out to be), Grant was ferocious in war, but chivalrous in peace, and  offered generous terms to the defeated armies of Robert E. Lee. His enemies on  the battlefield of politics showed him little honor, and they had a point:  Grant's presidency was marked by a legion of corrupt lieutenants and hangers-on  who built their fortunes on the back of a suffering people, and for whose  actions Grant's reputation long has suffered.<p>  Recent history has been kinder to Grant than were the chroniclers of his day,  not only for his undoubted abilities as a military leader, but also for his  conduct as a president who sought to rebuild a shattered nation.  Jean Edward  Smith, the author of fine biographies of  John Marshall and Lucius D.  Clay, offers compelling reasons to accept this program of revision, while  acknowledging the shortcomings of Grant's administration. Surely and  thoughtfully written, this sprawling but swiftly moving book stands as a true  hallmark in the literature that is devoted to Grant. <em>--Gregory McNamee</em></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2001</published>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Mar 21 19:35:52 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Mar 21 19:36:07 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[This was a truly awesome work. Very complete and balanced.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/50007487]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/50007487]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>46527891</id>
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    <name><![CDATA[Airwreck]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Kaneohe, HI]]></location>
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  <text_reviews_count type="integer">15</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Grant]]>
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  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1177924853m/742882.jpg</image_url>
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  <average_rating>4.30</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>47</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Hiram Ulysses Grant--mistakenly enrolled in the United States Military  Academy as Ulysses Simpson Grant, and so known ever since--was a failure in many  of the things to which he turned his hand. An indifferent, somewhat  undisciplined cadet who showed talent for mathematics and painting, he served  with unexpected distinction in the U.S. war against Mexico, then repeatedly went  broke as a real-estate speculator, freighter, and farmer. His reputation was  restored in the Civil War, in which he fulfilled a homespun philosophy of  battle: &quot;Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him  as hard as you can and as often as you can, and keep moving on.&quot; Given to dark  moods and the solace of the bottle (although far less so than his political foes  made him out to be), Grant was ferocious in war, but chivalrous in peace, and  offered generous terms to the defeated armies of Robert E. Lee. His enemies on  the battlefield of politics showed him little honor, and they had a point:  Grant's presidency was marked by a legion of corrupt lieutenants and hangers-on  who built their fortunes on the back of a suffering people, and for whose  actions Grant's reputation long has suffered.<p>  Recent history has been kinder to Grant than were the chroniclers of his day,  not only for his undoubted abilities as a military leader, but also for his  conduct as a president who sought to rebuild a shattered nation.  Jean Edward  Smith, the author of fine biographies of  John Marshall and Lucius D.  Clay, offers compelling reasons to accept this program of revision, while  acknowledging the shortcomings of Grant's administration. Surely and  thoughtfully written, this sprawling but swiftly moving book stands as a true  hallmark in the literature that is devoted to Grant. <em>--Gregory McNamee</em></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2001</published>
</book>

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  <date_added>Mon Feb 16 10:55:14 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Feb 16 10:55:39 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Very good book on Grant.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/46527891]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/46527891]]></link>
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      <review>
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    <name><![CDATA[Jason]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Arlington, VA]]></location>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Grant]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1177924853m/742882.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1177924853s/742882.jpg</small_image_url>
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  <average_rating>4.30</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>47</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Hiram Ulysses Grant--mistakenly enrolled in the United States Military  Academy as Ulysses Simpson Grant, and so known ever since--was a failure in many  of the things to which he turned his hand. An indifferent, somewhat  undisciplined cadet who showed talent for mathematics and painting, he served  with unexpected distinction in the U.S. war against Mexico, then repeatedly went  broke as a real-estate speculator, freighter, and farmer. His reputation was  restored in the Civil War, in which he fulfilled a homespun philosophy of  battle: &quot;Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him  as hard as you can and as often as you can, and keep moving on.&quot; Given to dark  moods and the solace of the bottle (although far less so than his political foes  made him out to be), Grant was ferocious in war, but chivalrous in peace, and  offered generous terms to the defeated armies of Robert E. Lee. His enemies on  the battlefield of politics showed him little honor, and they had a point:  Grant's presidency was marked by a legion of corrupt lieutenants and hangers-on  who built their fortunes on the back of a suffering people, and for whose  actions Grant's reputation long has suffered.<p>  Recent history has been kinder to Grant than were the chroniclers of his day,  not only for his undoubted abilities as a military leader, but also for his  conduct as a president who sought to rebuild a shattered nation.  Jean Edward  Smith, the author of fine biographies of  John Marshall and Lucius D.  Clay, offers compelling reasons to accept this program of revision, while  acknowledging the shortcomings of Grant's administration. Surely and  thoughtfully written, this sprawling but swiftly moving book stands as a true  hallmark in the literature that is devoted to Grant. <em>--Gregory McNamee</em></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2001</published>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[history fans]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Aug 07 11:02:22 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Dec 17 04:09:25 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[A thick read but well worth the investment. Grant was always considered to be a lame-duck, drunken president who's inaction and shady business deals did tremendous damage to a country that just had a civil war. But this book casts Grant in a new light and highlights some of his triumphs. He certainl...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4212584">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4212584]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4212584]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>69813712</id>
    <user>
    <id>2641258</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Gary]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Waupaca, WI]]></location>
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    <![CDATA[Grant]]>
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  <average_rating>4.30</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>47</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Hiram Ulysses Grant--mistakenly enrolled in the United States Military  Academy as Ulysses Simpson Grant, and so known ever since--was a failure in many  of the things to which he turned his hand. An indifferent, somewhat  undisciplined cadet who showed talent for mathematics and painting, he served  with unexpected distinction in the U.S. war against Mexico, then repeatedly went  broke as a real-estate speculator, freighter, and farmer. His reputation was  restored in the Civil War, in which he fulfilled a homespun philosophy of  battle: &quot;Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him  as hard as you can and as often as you can, and keep moving on.&quot; Given to dark  moods and the solace of the bottle (although far less so than his political foes  made him out to be), Grant was ferocious in war, but chivalrous in peace, and  offered generous terms to the defeated armies of Robert E. Lee. His enemies on  the battlefield of politics showed him little honor, and they had a point:  Grant's presidency was marked by a legion of corrupt lieutenants and hangers-on  who built their fortunes on the back of a suffering people, and for whose  actions Grant's reputation long has suffered.<p>  Recent history has been kinder to Grant than were the chroniclers of his day,  not only for his undoubted abilities as a military leader, but also for his  conduct as a president who sought to rebuild a shattered nation.  Jean Edward  Smith, the author of fine biographies of  John Marshall and Lucius D.  Clay, offers compelling reasons to accept this program of revision, while  acknowledging the shortcomings of Grant's administration. Surely and  thoughtfully written, this sprawling but swiftly moving book stands as a true  hallmark in the literature that is devoted to Grant. <em>--Gregory McNamee</em></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2001</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <read_at>Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Sep 02 10:21:13 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Sep 12 12:08:39 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Finished last night, September 11, 2009.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/69813712]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/69813712]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>14325488</id>
    <user>
    <id>865903</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Mindy]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>
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    <![CDATA[Grant]]>
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  <average_rating>4.30</average_rating>
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    <![CDATA[Hiram Ulysses Grant--mistakenly enrolled in the United States Military  Academy as Ulysses Simpson Grant, and so known ever since--was a failure in many  of the things to which he turned his hand. An indifferent, somewhat  undisciplined cadet who showed talent for mathematics and painting, he served  with unexpected distinction in the U.S. war against Mexico, then repeatedly went  broke as a real-estate speculator, freighter, and farmer. His reputation was  restored in the Civil War, in which he fulfilled a homespun philosophy of  battle: &quot;Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him  as hard as you can and as often as you can, and keep moving on.&quot; Given to dark  moods and the solace of the bottle (although far less so than his political foes  made him out to be), Grant was ferocious in war, but chivalrous in peace, and  offered generous terms to the defeated armies of Robert E. Lee. His enemies on  the battlefield of politics showed him little honor, and they had a point:  Grant's presidency was marked by a legion of corrupt lieutenants and hangers-on  who built their fortunes on the back of a suffering people, and for whose  actions Grant's reputation long has suffered.<p>  Recent history has been kinder to Grant than were the chroniclers of his day,  not only for his undoubted abilities as a military leader, but also for his  conduct as a president who sought to rebuild a shattered nation.  Jean Edward  Smith, the author of fine biographies of  John Marshall and Lucius D.  Clay, offers compelling reasons to accept this program of revision, while  acknowledging the shortcomings of Grant's administration. Surely and  thoughtfully written, this sprawling but swiftly moving book stands as a true  hallmark in the literature that is devoted to Grant. <em>--Gregory McNamee</em></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2001</published>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
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  <read_at>Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Feb 01 18:33:34 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Feb 01 18:36:53 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[This book was fantastic.  The writer did a beautiful job from beginning to end.  While reading this book, I really felt as though I were shadowing Grant through his entire life.  I learned a tremendous amount of incredible facts and cried alot.  Great book.  Great subject matter.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/14325488]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/14325488]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
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    <name><![CDATA[Ken]]></name>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Grant]]>
  </title>
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  <average_rating>4.30</average_rating>
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    <![CDATA[Hiram Ulysses Grant--mistakenly enrolled in the United States Military  Academy as Ulysses Simpson Grant, and so known ever since--was a failure in many  of the things to which he turned his hand. An indifferent, somewhat  undisciplined cadet who showed talent for mathematics and painting, he served  with unexpected distinction in the U.S. war against Mexico, then repeatedly went  broke as a real-estate speculator, freighter, and farmer. His reputation was  restored in the Civil War, in which he fulfilled a homespun philosophy of  battle: &quot;Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him  as hard as you can and as often as you can, and keep moving on.&quot; Given to dark  moods and the solace of the bottle (although far less so than his political foes  made him out to be), Grant was ferocious in war, but chivalrous in peace, and  offered generous terms to the defeated armies of Robert E. Lee. His enemies on  the battlefield of politics showed him little honor, and they had a point:  Grant's presidency was marked by a legion of corrupt lieutenants and hangers-on  who built their fortunes on the back of a suffering people, and for whose  actions Grant's reputation long has suffered.<p>  Recent history has been kinder to Grant than were the chroniclers of his day,  not only for his undoubted abilities as a military leader, but also for his  conduct as a president who sought to rebuild a shattered nation.  Jean Edward  Smith, the author of fine biographies of  John Marshall and Lucius D.  Clay, offers compelling reasons to accept this program of revision, while  acknowledging the shortcomings of Grant's administration. Surely and  thoughtfully written, this sprawling but swiftly moving book stands as a true  hallmark in the literature that is devoted to Grant. <em>--Gregory McNamee</em></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2001</published>
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    <rating>5</rating>
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  <read_at>Sun Aug 02 07:16:58 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Aug 14 10:48:04 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Aug 02 07:16:58 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Excellent biography of Grant that makes the case that his low-rank among historians was created by political enemies after his death.  I've read Grant's memoirs, and he was much more admirable and brilliant that he's given credit for.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/30143493]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/30143493]]></link>
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      <review>
  <id>24710268</id>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Grant]]>
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  <average_rating>3.60</average_rating>
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    <![CDATA[Hiram Ulysses Grant--mistakenly enrolled in the United States Military  Academy as Ulysses Simpson Grant, and so known ever since--was a failure in many  of the things to which he turned his hand. An indifferent, somewhat  undisciplined cadet who showed talent for mathematics and painting, he served  with unexpected distinction in the U.S. war against Mexico, then repeatedly went  broke as a real-estate speculator, freighter, and farmer. His reputation was  restored in the Civil War, in which he fulfilled a homespun philosophy of  battle: &quot;Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him  as hard as you can and as often as you can, and keep moving on.&quot; Given to dark  moods and the solace of the bottle (although far less so than his political foes  made him out to be), Grant was ferocious in war, but chivalrous in peace, and  offered generous terms to the defeated armies of Robert E. Lee. His enemies on  the battlefield of politics showed him little honor, and they had a point:  Grant's presidency was marked by a legion of corrupt lieutenants and hangers-on  who built their fortunes on the back of a suffering people, and for whose  actions Grant's reputation long has suffered.<p>  Recent history has been kinder to Grant than were the chroniclers of his day,  not only for his undoubted abilities as a military leader, but also for his  conduct as a president who sought to rebuild a shattered nation.  Jean Edward  Smith, the author of fine biographies of  John Marshall and Lucius D.  Clay, offers compelling reasons to accept this program of revision, while  acknowledging the shortcomings of Grant's administration. Surely and  thoughtfully written, this sprawling but swiftly moving book stands as a true  hallmark in the literature that is devoted to Grant. <em>--Gregory McNamee</em></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2001</published>
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  <date_added>Tue Jun 17 09:42:48 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Aug 16 13:05:35 -0700 2008</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[My Uncle Eric is letting me borrow this book. It's not as dry and &quot;textbook-ish&quot; as I thought it would be.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/24710268]]></url>
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      <review>
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    <![CDATA[Grant]]>
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  <average_rating>4.30</average_rating>
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    <![CDATA[Hiram Ulysses Grant--mistakenly enrolled in the United States Military  Academy as Ulysses Simpson Grant, and so known ever since--was a failure in many  of the things to which he turned his hand. An indifferent, somewhat  undisciplined cadet who showed talent for mathematics and painting, he served  with unexpected distinction in the U.S. war against Mexico, then repeatedly went  broke as a real-estate speculator, freighter, and farmer. His reputation was  restored in the Civil War, in which he fulfilled a homespun philosophy of  battle: &quot;Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him  as hard as you can and as often as you can, and keep moving on.&quot; Given to dark  moods and the solace of the bottle (although far less so than his political foes  made him out to be), Grant was ferocious in war, but chivalrous in peace, and  offered generous terms to the defeated armies of Robert E. Lee. His enemies on  the battlefield of politics showed him little honor, and they had a point:  Grant's presidency was marked by a legion of corrupt lieutenants and hangers-on  who built their fortunes on the back of a suffering people, and for whose  actions Grant's reputation long has suffered.<p>  Recent history has been kinder to Grant than were the chroniclers of his day,  not only for his undoubted abilities as a military leader, but also for his  conduct as a president who sought to rebuild a shattered nation.  Jean Edward  Smith, the author of fine biographies of  John Marshall and Lucius D.  Clay, offers compelling reasons to accept this program of revision, while  acknowledging the shortcomings of Grant's administration. Surely and  thoughtfully written, this sprawling but swiftly moving book stands as a true  hallmark in the literature that is devoted to Grant. <em>--Gregory McNamee</em></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2001</published>
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    <rating>5</rating>
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  <date_added>Fri Oct 31 07:30:45 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Oct 31 07:31:38 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[My favorite book of all time..a great read about the greatest American whoever lived.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/36619368]]></url>
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      <review>
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    <![CDATA[Grant]]>
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  <average_rating>4.30</average_rating>
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    <![CDATA[Hiram Ulysses Grant--mistakenly enrolled in the United States Military  Academy as Ulysses Simpson Grant, and so known ever since--was a failure in many  of the things to which he turned his hand. An indifferent, somewhat  undisciplined cadet who showed talent for mathematics and painting, he served  with unexpected distinction in the U.S. war against Mexico, then repeatedly went  broke as a real-estate speculator, freighter, and farmer. His reputation was  restored in the Civil War, in which he fulfilled a homespun philosophy of  battle: &quot;Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him  as hard as you can and as often as you can, and keep moving on.&quot; Given to dark  moods and the solace of the bottle (although far less so than his political foes  made him out to be), Grant was ferocious in war, but chivalrous in peace, and  offered generous terms to the defeated armies of Robert E. Lee. His enemies on  the battlefield of politics showed him little honor, and they had a point:  Grant's presidency was marked by a legion of corrupt lieutenants and hangers-on  who built their fortunes on the back of a suffering people, and for whose  actions Grant's reputation long has suffered.<p>  Recent history has been kinder to Grant than were the chroniclers of his day,  not only for his undoubted abilities as a military leader, but also for his  conduct as a president who sought to rebuild a shattered nation.  Jean Edward  Smith, the author of fine biographies of  John Marshall and Lucius D.  Clay, offers compelling reasons to accept this program of revision, while  acknowledging the shortcomings of Grant's administration. Surely and  thoughtfully written, this sprawling but swiftly moving book stands as a true  hallmark in the literature that is devoted to Grant. <em>--Gregory McNamee</em></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2001</published>
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  <date_added>Mon Jun 15 17:54:00 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Jun 15 17:54:21 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Took me forever and three checkouts from library but a great book.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/59810899]]></url>
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      <review>
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    <![CDATA[Grant]]>
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    <![CDATA[Hiram Ulysses Grant--mistakenly enrolled in the United States Military  Academy as Ulysses Simpson Grant, and so known ever since--was a failure in many  of the things to which he turned his hand. An indifferent, somewhat  undisciplined cadet who showed talent for mathematics and painting, he served  with unexpected distinction in the U.S. war against Mexico, then repeatedly went  broke as a real-estate speculator, freighter, and farmer. His reputation was  restored in the Civil War, in which he fulfilled a homespun philosophy of  battle: &quot;Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him  as hard as you can and as often as you can, and keep moving on.&quot; Given to dark  moods and the solace of the bottle (although far less so than his political foes  made him out to be), Grant was ferocious in war, but chivalrous in peace, and  offered generous terms to the defeated armies of Robert E. Lee. His enemies on  the battlefield of politics showed him little honor, and they had a point:  Grant's presidency was marked by a legion of corrupt lieutenants and hangers-on  who built their fortunes on the back of a suffering people, and for whose  actions Grant's reputation long has suffered.<p>  Recent history has been kinder to Grant than were the chroniclers of his day,  not only for his undoubted abilities as a military leader, but also for his  conduct as a president who sought to rebuild a shattered nation.  Jean Edward  Smith, the author of fine biographies of  John Marshall and Lucius D.  Clay, offers compelling reasons to accept this program of revision, while  acknowledging the shortcomings of Grant's administration. Surely and  thoughtfully written, this sprawling but swiftly moving book stands as a true  hallmark in the literature that is devoted to Grant. <em>--Gregory McNamee</em></p>]]>
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      <review>
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    <![CDATA[Grant]]>
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    <![CDATA[Hiram Ulysses Grant--mistakenly enrolled in the United States Military  Academy as Ulysses Simpson Grant, and so known ever since--was a failure in many  of the things to which he turned his hand. An indifferent, somewhat  undisciplined cadet who showed talent for mathematics and painting, he served  with unexpected distinction in the U.S. war against Mexico, then repeatedly went  broke as a real-estate speculator, freighter, and farmer. His reputation was  restored in the Civil War, in which he fulfilled a homespun philosophy of  battle: &quot;Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him  as hard as you can and as often as you can, and keep moving on.&quot; Given to dark  moods and the solace of the bottle (although far less so than his political foes  made him out to be), Grant was ferocious in war, but chivalrous in peace, and  offered generous terms to the defeated armies of Robert E. Lee. His enemies on  the battlefield of politics showed him little honor, and they had a point:  Grant's presidency was marked by a legion of corrupt lieutenants and hangers-on  who built their fortunes on the back of a suffering people, and for whose  actions Grant's reputation long has suffered.<p>  Recent history has been kinder to Grant than were the chroniclers of his day,  not only for his undoubted abilities as a military leader, but also for his  conduct as a president who sought to rebuild a shattered nation.  Jean Edward  Smith, the author of fine biographies of  John Marshall and Lucius D.  Clay, offers compelling reasons to accept this program of revision, while  acknowledging the shortcomings of Grant's administration. Surely and  thoughtfully written, this sprawling but swiftly moving book stands as a true  hallmark in the literature that is devoted to Grant. <em>--Gregory McNamee</em></p>]]>
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    <![CDATA[Hiram Ulysses Grant--mistakenly enrolled in the United States Military  Academy as Ulysses Simpson Grant, and so known ever since--was a failure in many  of the things to which he turned his hand. An indifferent, somewhat  undisciplined cadet who showed talent for mathematics and painting, he served  with unexpected distinction in the U.S. war against Mexico, then repeatedly went  broke as a real-estate speculator, freighter, and farmer. His reputation was  restored in the Civil War, in which he fulfilled a homespun philosophy of  battle: &quot;Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him  as hard as you can and as often as you can, and keep moving on.&quot; Given to dark  moods and the solace of the bottle (although far less so than his political foes  made him out to be), Grant was ferocious in war, but chivalrous in peace, and  offered generous terms to the defeated armies of Robert E. Lee. His enemies on  the battlefield of politics showed him little honor, and they had a point:  Grant's presidency was marked by a legion of corrupt lieutenants and hangers-on  who built their fortunes on the back of a suffering people, and for whose  actions Grant's reputation long has suffered.<p>  Recent history has been kinder to Grant than were the chroniclers of his day,  not only for his undoubted abilities as a military leader, but also for his  conduct as a president who sought to rebuild a shattered nation.  Jean Edward  Smith, the author of fine biographies of  John Marshall and Lucius D.  Clay, offers compelling reasons to accept this program of revision, while  acknowledging the shortcomings of Grant's administration. Surely and  thoughtfully written, this sprawling but swiftly moving book stands as a true  hallmark in the literature that is devoted to Grant. <em>--Gregory McNamee</em></p>]]>
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  <id type="integer">742882</id>
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    <![CDATA[Grant]]>
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    <![CDATA[Hiram Ulysses Grant--mistakenly enrolled in the United States Military  Academy as Ulysses Simpson Grant, and so known ever since--was a failure in many  of the things to which he turned his hand. An indifferent, somewhat  undisciplined cadet who showed talent for mathematics and painting, he served  with unexpected distinction in the U.S. war against Mexico, then repeatedly went  broke as a real-estate speculator, freighter, and farmer. His reputation was  restored in the Civil War, in which he fulfilled a homespun philosophy of  battle: &quot;Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him  as hard as you can and as often as you can, and keep moving on.&quot; Given to dark  moods and the solace of the bottle (although far less so than his political foes  made him out to be), Grant was ferocious in war, but chivalrous in peace, and  offered generous terms to the defeated armies of Robert E. Lee. His enemies on  the battlefield of politics showed him little honor, and they had a point:  Grant's presidency was marked by a legion of corrupt lieutenants and hangers-on  who built their fortunes on the back of a suffering people, and for whose  actions Grant's reputation long has suffered.<p>  Recent history has been kinder to Grant than were the chroniclers of his day,  not only for his undoubted abilities as a military leader, but also for his  conduct as a president who sought to rebuild a shattered nation.  Jean Edward  Smith, the author of fine biographies of  John Marshall and Lucius D.  Clay, offers compelling reasons to accept this program of revision, while  acknowledging the shortcomings of Grant's administration. Surely and  thoughtfully written, this sprawling but swiftly moving book stands as a true  hallmark in the literature that is devoted to Grant. <em>--Gregory McNamee</em></p>]]>
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  <published>2001</published>
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  <date_added>Thu Oct 22 10:24:36 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Oct 22 10:24:36 -0700 2009</date_updated>
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