Summary

The Introduction describes how, near the end of his life, Grant wrote and published his personal memoirs extremely quickly, even while in intense pain. Traditionally, he had preferred to be modest and not speak extensively about his accomplishments, but he desperately needed money to support his family before his death. Chernow argues that the traditional view of Grant as a General who relied exclusively on superior manpower, an incompetent President, and a frequent drinker is inaccurate and unfair. Instead, he had a number of significant accomplishments both during and after the Civil War and an admirable personal character.

Chapter One begins Part I and describes Grant’s early life. He was born in 1822 in a small Ohio town near the Kentucky border to Jesse and Hannah Grant. Jesse was flamboyant and ambitious, constantly seeking to improve his and his family’s social standing and...