The Man Who Saved the Union

Ulysses Grant in War and Peace

By: H. W. Brands

Narrated by: Stephen Hoye

Length: 27 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

From New York Times best-selling author H. W. Brands, a masterful biography of the Civil War general and two-term president who saved the Union twice, on the battlefield and in the White House, holding the country together at two critical turning points in our history.

Ulysses Grant rose from obscurity to discover he had a genius for battle, and he propelled the Union to victory in the Civil War. After Abraham Lincoln's assassination and the disastrous brief presidency of Andrew Johnson, America turned to Grant again to unite the country, this time as president. In Brands' sweeping, majestic full biography, Grant emerges as a heroic figure who was fearlessly on the side of right. He was a beloved commander in the field but willing to make the troop sacrifices necessary to win the war, even in the face of storms of criticism. He worked valiantly to protect the rights of freedmen in the South; Brands calls him the last presidential defender of Black civil rights for nearly a century. He played it straight with the American Indians, allowing them to shape their own fate even as the realities of Manifest Destiny meant the end of their way of life. He was an enormously popular president whose memoirs were a huge best seller; yet within decades of his death his reputation was in tatters, the victim of Southerners who resented his policies on Reconstruction. In this page-turning biography, Brands now reconsiders Grant's legacy and provides a compelling and intimate portrait of a man who saved the Union on the battlefield and consolidated that victory as a resolute and principled political leader.

©2012 H. W. Brands; 2012 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Once again, H. W. Brands has crafted a wonderful portrait of a great leader who endured and prevailed in hours of stress and strain. Brands' U. S. Grant is a compelling figure, a man too often overlooked by history. This book rectifies that with grace and insight." (Jon Meacham, author of American Lion, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for biography)

"This authoritative biography of an obscure failure and occasional drunkard who became a Civil War generalissimo and the 18th U.S. president is a study in two kinds of moral courage.... [Brands'] narrative of Grant's military campaigns in particular is lucid, colorful, and focused on telling moments of decision. His Grant emerges as an immensely appealing figure...with a keen mind, stout character, and unpretentious manner. The result is a fine portrait of the quintessential American hero." ( Publishers Weekly)

"Too frequently overshadowed or overlooked, U. S. Grant finally gets his due in H. W. Brands' splendid new biography. With verve and his trademark scholarship, Brands vividly brings Grant to life. Here, rendered in all his humanity, is the soldier, statesman, president. Here, too, is a man as much for our time as for his." (Jay Winik, author of April 1865 and The Great Upheaval)

Excellent book; fills many gaps

What made the experience of listening to The Man Who Saved the Union the most enjoyable?

The core of Grant's Civil War years are well known from the many excellent Civil War book (Caton, McPherson, Foote, etc.) and Brands provides a good run-through of that here. There is not much about his very youth, and a smattering of West Point. The new (for me) information begins with details of courting Julia Dent, pre-Mexican War, the Oregon years, Galena IL, Rawlins and Washburn, through Belmont. There is an unexpected but welcome digression for background on Sherman.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Man Who Saved the Union?

Most welcome is discussion of the Reconstruction years, about which so very little is available in popular writings. Coverage of the Presidential years are for the same reason much valued in this book.

What about Stephen Hoye’s performance did you like?

Stephen Hoye is one of my "go to" narrators. Every word clearly pronounced, and generally even levels of volume and pitch. These are essential for listening against background noise, and for retention of non-fiction information. (As contrasted with a reading of "Night Terror of the Swamp Monsters" where some emotionalism is expected.) In this book, Hoye's rendition is sometimes overly "emotional," for which I subtracted one star. But we forgive you, Stephen. The book is that good.

Very good narration. Pays tribute to one of the very best of American history.

Great narration. Very informative. But may rely too heavily on quotations rather than independent, original prose.

Wonderful detail

Amazing details of Grants entire life and how it shaped his Civil War leadership and Presidency

Underrated hero

Grant is one of the most underrated heroes of American history. He is usually remembered as a drunk, a butcher, or an incompetent, who had one of the most corrupt presidential administrations ever. There's a grain of truth in some of these — Grant did have a drinking problem earlier in his life; his final push to end the Civil War resulted in appalling casualties; and many of the men he picked for his administration betrayed his trust. (No evidence about the incompetence, except with money: he was a brilliant general and a wonderful writer.)

But Grant remains a hero: personally honest, a devoted husband and father, a courageous soldier, a brilliant strategist, and totally committed to Lincoln's vision for ending the war. H. W. Brands demonstrates his remarkable virtues in chapter after fast-moving chapter. Even his presidency gets more positive attention than usual: among other things, he broke the power of the Ku Klux Klan in the postwar south.

And of course there's the inspiring story of his battle with bankruptcy and cancer and his struggle to complete his memoirs before succumbing to the final assault. Their subsequent publication (by Mark Twain) ensured the prosperity of his family for many years after his death.

H. W. Brands tells the story as much as possible in the words of the participants. Every biographer of Grant will quote from the same letters and journals and memoirs; but usually these are snippets interspersed with summary and interpretation. Brands is more generous in his quotations, presenting whole paragraphs and even groups of paragraphs. The result is an exceptionally vivid account. Brands has captured him in motion.

Stephen Hoye narrates briskly and with a lot more passion than is usual in nonfiction. It's an audiobook I plan to return to again and again.

Fascinating story, but it could have been abridged

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes if they have 27 hours to listen.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Man Who Saved the Union?

The whole story was memborable as I knew nothing of his life.

What does Stephen Hoye bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

A genuinely caring and calm voice. much as l you would have imagined a great leader to sound.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When he talked about meeting Lincoln and how much he respected him.

Any additional comments?

Made me want to learn more about the civil war time period and what followed for the country.

Great production of Brands’s work

Brands is one of the very best biographers of Grant. During these tumultuous times it is refreshing to read of someone who is stuck to his values throughout his life and put others and the country ahead of his own interests.

Very informative book.

Wasn’t sure what to expect, but I really enjoyed this book and the information presently, although it was a bit long. Really interesting in listening to the goings on during Grants time and how there are so many similarities (too many to mention in this review) to even today. That part of the book was unexpected, however, very interesting. Enjoyed this read and Mr. Hoye did a nice job with the narration.

Great fact filled biography.

From beginning to end the life of U S GRANT, is available in this well made and well told story complete from birth to the end of his so life. I must say how very much I enjoyed this audiobook. I think anyone will

Reads like a novel

Though I love history and historical novels I normally do not love biographies. This one is different. The writer did a great job of picking interesting facts of one of our greatest leaders of our nation. Throughout, you get to know the character of Grant, why he was such an impressive general. You learn of his struggles as a younger man finding work that he was good at. I think the one thing I learned is how he was a man of character. I strongly suggest this book to anyone who may be looking for what the country went through after the Civil War. You won’t be disappointed.

Too much cut and paste

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Unless the friend is a serious Grant scholar- no. The book contains far too little of Brands astute insights and analysis and far too much "cut and paste" from Grant's Memoirs, Sherman's Memoirs, speeches, letters and newspaper articles of the period.

Using source material to make key points is helpful but droning on and on from letters and speeches is unnecessary.

What did you like best about this story?

The 10% that contained Brands insights and analysis.

Would you be willing to try another one of Stephen Hoye’s performances?

No, never.

Do you think The Man Who Saved the Union needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No