Ulysse

GRANT, Ulysses SBiblio.com

Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant

188514234New York: Charles L. Webster 1885. First Edition. Hardcover. Very good. Large octavo 2 volumes. A very near fine set in the publisher's deluxe 3/4 morocco binding. Spines just barely and evenly sun-kissed a nick to the middle of the spine of volume II and a few tiny abrasions to corners but a sharp sound lovely set increasingly rare in this condition. Front inner hinge oo volume I with a very thin harline crack as often; still sound. Small faint ownership stamps of one "C. M. Smith" to each volume. This set belonged to a veteran of the Civil War one Charles M. Smith of Evansville WI. His obituary and various other sources we found online such as a reunion photograph disagree as to whether he was the Assistant Surgeon in the 13th or 16th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry but in either case it's clear that he volunteered in 1861. Both units saw a great deal of action during the war. Also laid-in to the set is a photographic negative of a monument to the 16th Wisconsin infantry regiment which leads us to suspect that this was in fact his unit.<br /> <br /> A gift-quality example of this popular and well-regarded memoir among the best in both the military and presidential classes. Grant finished the memoirs on his deathbed and was convinced by his friend Mark Twain to use his publisher Charles L. Webster who sold the book by subscription only. Many of the book's "salesmen" were not really professional salesmen but veterans of the war who held Grant--warts and all--in very high esteem for his leadership during the conflict. These veterans often showed up to their neighbors' homes wearing their old uniforms; it's hard to imagine saying "no" to such a "salesman."<br /> <br /> One would think then that sets of Grant's memoirs would be commonly found with Civil War veteran ownership signatures but this is only the second such set which we have handled. So not only a handsome and well-preserved set but one with appealing provenance. Charles L. Webster hardcover

Cleveland Book Company · États-Unis2 500,00 $US≈ 2 115,25 €

Grant, Ulysses SBiblio.com

Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant

188683771New York: Charles L. Webster & Company 1886. Later second printing. Hardcover. fair. VOLUME II ONLY. 647 1--errata to Volume I pages. Decorative cover. Front and rear boards weak restrengthened with glue. Frontis illustration. Footnotes. Tabular Information. Maps including folding. Appendix. Index. Some wear to board and spine edges. Stamp of previous owner present. Volume II covers assuming command at Chattanooga through the remainder of the Civil War. In this volume Grant describes his movement from assuming command of the Military Department of the Mississippi through the Battle of Lookout Mountain transfer to the Army of the Potomac Battle of the Wilderness Battle of Spottsylvania Battle of North Anna Battle of Cold Harbor Campaign in the Shenandoah Valley Siege of Petersburg Battle of Franklin Battle of Nashville Fort Fisher Battle of Sailor's creek Appomattox Surrender and The End of the War. The Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant is an autobiography by Ulysses S. Grant the 18th President of the United States focused mainly on his military career during the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War and completed as he was dying of cancer in 1885. Facing his mortality Grant struck a publishing deal with his friend Mark Twain for his memoirs hoping that they would provide for his family after his death. In the early stages of his work he had the assistance of Adam Badeau an author who had served on his staff during the war. The two-volume set was published by Mark Twain shortly after Grant's death. Twain created a unique marketing system designed to reach millions of veterans with a patriotic appeal just as Grant's death was being mourned. Ten thousand agents canvassed the North following a script that Twain had devised; many were veterans who dressed in their old uniforms. They sold 350000 two-volume sets at prices from $3.50 to $12 depending on the binding. Each copy contained what looked like a handwritten note from Grant himself. The Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant has been highly regarded by the general public military historians and literary critics. Positive attention is often directed toward Grant's prose which has been praised as shrewd intelligent and effective. He portrayed himself in the persona of the honorable Western hero whose strength lies in his honesty and straightforwardness. He candidly depicts his battles against both the external Confederates and his internal Army foes. The narrative ends shortly after the Army of the Potomac's final review in Washington in May 1865. Grant deliberately avoids comment on Reconstruction apart from saying that he favored black suffrage. The final chapter "Conclusion" is a reflection on the war and its effects the actions of foreign countries during it and the reconciliation of North and South. In the final paragraphs Grant makes note of his own condition and expresses optimism that "Federal and Confederate" can live together. The Memoirs quickly became a best seller. The Grant family who received 75% of the net royalties after expenses made approximately $450000 equivalent to $12000000 in 2016 from the book re-establishing their fortune. Charles L. Webster & Company hardcover

Ground Zero Books · États-Unis100,00 $US≈ 84,61 €