Member Reviews

A sneak peek into some major events in the life of Ulysses S Grant, hero of the American Civil War and US President. The novel touches upon his devoted relationship to his wife Julia, some important moments from the Civil war, the great deception which led to his financial ruin and how he struggled to write his memoirs so as to provide his family with financial security after his passing. The novel is written in a series of flashbacks and left me curious enough to read a more detailed biography of President Grant.

Thank you Netgalley, Atria Books and Jon Clinch for the ARC

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I possessed limited knowledge about Ulysses S. Grant's life, mainly recognizing his prominent roles as the Union army's general and President. However, this book endeavors to unveil the true essence of the man behind the titles. It unfolds as a series of flashbacks as Grant, on his deathbed, composes his final memoirs. In this intimate narrative, we gain a profound glimpse into his character and the life he shared with his wife, Julia. Grant emerges as a fundamentally uncomplicated man with a steadfast moral compass but never strident. The dynamic between Grant and his father-in-law is a compelling and well-drawn aspect of the story. Yet, I found myself wishing for a deeper exploration of Julia and Jule's relationship. The book stands out for its ability to present a well-rounded portrait of its characters, highlighting both their strengths and shortcomings. The prose is masterful, and I could have eagerly consumed another hundred pages. As much as I enjoyed the book, I left feeling unsatisfied. I wanted to understand more about this fascinating man.

Many thanks to Atria and Netgalley for this advanced readers copy.

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Very well written prose, however I can’t get into these fictional rendering of history. Case of it’s me not the book.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

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Thank you Netgalley and Atria books for the ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

This is an excellent historical fiction take on the life of a president many of us learned little about in school. It shifts in time from Grant's early days as a Civil War general, into his presidency, and behind the scenes into his personal life and especially his relationship with Julia, his wife. I found it engaging, historically accurate (based on quick google searches when when something caught in my mind), and well worth a read.

4 stars.

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A riveting and thought provoking look at the life of Ulysses S Grant as he writes his memoir. Rich in historical detail.
Many thanks to Atria and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

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I have read that Grant's memoir is the best presidential memoir ever written. In this historical fiction the author touches upon the various portions of his life. While in severe pain, he manages to reflect and to write about his life in order to provide financial security for his family. Highly recommended.

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I have read a few non-fiction and fiction accounts of Grant, and this one was an enjoyable historical fiction take that covered some of the more complex portions of Grant's life. Discussion of his wife's slave (a part of the Grant household going into the Civil War), the financial disaster in which Grant and his family became ensnared, and Samuel Clemens' (Mark Twain) appearance as a character added great dimension to this story, making it more than just another novel about an important war hero and President. I do wish both his wife and the slave, once she parted ways from the Grant family, were fleshed out more completely.

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Jon Clinch has written a story of Ulysses S. Grant’s final days. While writing his memoir, Grant relives historical battles, wartime strategies, the presidency years and his family life. Clinch provides a unique format and an insightful look into this famous general’s reconciliation with his past behavior and decisions. Grant decides to write his memoirs hoping that this final project will help financially support his family when he’s gone. Rapidly declining health due to throat cancer forces Grant to communicate only through his writing. Fighting through his pain and the haze of medications, Grant is forced to look back on his choices and analyze his decisions. Known as a tough war hero and for a presidency that supported civil rights, Clinch’s The General and Julia offers a unique depth into this historic figure.

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This work of historical fiction opens in 1885 as Ulysses S. Grant, near death from throat cancer, is writing his memoirs. The novel then moves back and forth in time as it paints a picture of the man, his beliefs, his decisions and his relationships through narratives of significant moments in his life. Sometimes it is told from the viewpoint of the General, sometimes that of others whose lives have intersected with his. Unlike many historical novels, this is not a chronological tale; some of the most well-known parts of his history, such as his presidency, are barely touched upon. It is, instead, an empathetic look at his strengths and weaknesses that informs his place in history. The prose is delightful.

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Engrossing fictionalized memoir that brought Grant to life and placed him within his culture and environment.

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A novelized look at Grant’s final days as he hastens to complete his memoir before throat cancer claims his life. An intriguing look into his accomplishments as he puts to paper his amazing life.

I believe most people, when they think of Grant, recall him characterized as a hard drinking, uncouth hero of the Civil War. He was much more than that. Hard working, loving family man and fair in all his encounters, sometimes being a little naive in his dealings with others.

If I have one criticism, I wish his wife, Julia, was spotlighted more then she was. Although her name is in the title I feel her contributions were not explored deeply enough.

This book is set to be published in November, 2023.

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A retrospective glimpse at a life that chronicles the years of Ulysses S. Grant as he looks back on his life as not just a former Commanding General, and former president, but his personal life with a wife, a family, and the years of the war, as well as the eventual surrender. As a president who served two terms, he promoted the civil rights of all Americans, and was opposed to the Ku Klux Klan. A man who loved his wife and wanted to leave a better legacy, a better world for his children and theirs.

As he searches his memories of those days during the war, there is both mental pain over the things he witnessed during the war, the horror of so many deaths, so many widows and children who were left fatherless, the horror of the things that haunt him still, and so he puts pen to paper in an effort to leave something behind. As his health deteriorates, he is determined to continue writing through the pain, desperate to leave memories for his children, his wife, and his country, and perhaps some degree of absolution in the process.

It’s been a while since I’ve read Jon Clinch, but I have loved those I’ve read before. This one felt very different from the others that I’ve read, as though it came from a more personal place. It has its dark moments, but those moments seem to be more on Grant’s reflections of what he could have done differently, how he wishes he could leave this world and his family with something more.

A thought-provoking, beautifully rendered and moving story of his life, his failures, and the legacy he leaves behind.


Pub Date: 14 Nov 2023

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Atria Books

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I like Jon Clinch’s books and this one is no exception. Historical fiction exploring personal aspects of General Grant’s life-his marriage to Julia and his financial dealings later in his life. Told in shifting points of time the book brings texture and depth to Grant’s life- all the while illuminating the times in which he lived. Clinch is and excellent novelist and one of the best practitioners of intelligent historical fiction extant. Highly recommended.

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