Crucible of Command

Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee - the War They Fought, the Peace They Forged

De: William C. Davis

Narrado por: Traber Burns

A dual biography of two iconic leaders: how they fought a bloody, brutal war then forged a lasting peace that fundamentally changed our nation.

They met in person only four times, yet these two men determined the outcome of the Civil War and cast competing styles for the reunited nation. Each the subject of innumerable biographies, Generals Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee have never before been paired as they are here.

Exploring their personalities, their character, and their ethical, moral, political, and military worlds, William C. Davis finds surprising similarities between the two men as well as new perspectives on how their lives prepared them for the war they fought and influenced how they fought it. Davis reveals Lee's sense of failure before the war, Grant's optimism during disaster, and the sophisticated social and political instincts that each had when waging a war between democracies.

©2015 William C. Davis (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

long but great historical listen

an amazing contrast between two of our countries preeminent generals. the chronological order of events along with characterizations of experiences that show how each band evolved and ultimately have been remembered as was encapsulating.

m My thoughts

I liked how it talked a little more about their private lives.

A good comparative history of 2 great generals.

This is a good history of these 2 great generals but not a great history of the civil war. It can be hard to follow at times as the author shifts from Grant to Lee and back and I found myself backing up to see who he was talking about at times. It does provide an interesting comparison of these 2 men and how similar and different they were. I think Grant was the better general, but history doesn't seem to portray it that way. Listen to the book and make your own decision.

Good retelling

I enjoyed the retelling of the stories of Grant and Lee and their leadership during the Civil War. I particularly enjoyed Davis' focus on how they stragetized their campaigns and how they handled their staffs. Davis' use of their correspondence gave us an intimate look at their personal struggles. A familiar story well told.

Superb

I've done extensive reading on the American Civil War and rank this book as a must read for anyone interested in learning about these prime movers of that war. The author has reached deep into the historical record with masterful discrimination, judgment and insight to bring the reader perspectives and understandings that are fresh, informative and instructive. This biographical and analytic narrative presents material in chronological order allowing one to appreciate the remarkable transformation each man underwent as he entered the crucible of command during the greatest crisis in American history.