After leaving the office of the presidency in 1877; Ulysses S. Grant embarked on a journey worthy of his legendary namesake; an around-the-world tour that took him from Europe to the Middle East and Asia over two and one-half years. Accompanying Grant was journalist John Russell Young; a wartime associate who was working in Europe as a correspondent for the New York Herald when Grant first arrived in England. On assignment for the Herald; Young joined the former president's entourage and faithfully recorded every detail of the grand tour―the sightseeing; official visits; travel conditions; and Grant's candid discussions with heads of state and other notables about the Civil War and other matters of state. So far from home; Grant felt free to speak his mind about his fellow Union officers; his Confederate adversaries; and the conduct of the war; at far more length than he would in his celebrated but close-to-the-vest memoirs. These salty reminiscences of the war give this travelogue its greatest importance for posterity.First published in two volumes in 1879; Young's account has been carefully abridged by historian Michael Fellman and is now available to modern readers in a single volume that; besides his adventures abroad; distills Grant's unvarnished memories and judgments of his wartime and executive experiences. We read Grant's opinions of such Civil War figures as Stonewall Jackson ("Jackson's fame as a general depends upon achievements gained before his generalship was tested; before he had a chance of matching himself with a really great commander."); George McClellan ("It has always seemed to me that the critics of McClellan do not consider this vast and cruel responsibility―the war; a new thing to all of us; the army new; everything to do from the outset; with a restless people and Congress."); and Joe Johnston ("I have had nearly all of the Southern generals in high command in front of me; and Joe Johnston gave me more anxiety than any of the others. I was never half so anxious about Lee... Take it all in all; the South; in my opinion; had no better soldier than Joe Johnston."). An intimate portrait of one of America's most brilliant―and thoughtful―military men; Around the World with General Grant is a classic work of American journalism and history. It is also a vivid and insightful travel book; filled with reflections on exotic places and on Western; particularly British; imperialism as America was on the reluctant verge of entering the world stage.
#5529639 in Books 1990-06-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 2 10.50 x 7.00 x 1.50l; #File Name: 0801838622472 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Alabi's World (Johns Hopkins Studies in Atlantic History and Culture)By JamesI ordered this book on 11/02/2011 and got it in less than a week. It is a used book but the condition was as good as the vendor stated. I am extremely satisfied with the purchase and would heartily recommend this vendor.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. great;By Mirandamy brother need so cool product; Great looking product; beautifully crafted. Very sharp; good weight; incredible price! will buy next time. just fine; as described .10 of 11 people found the following review helpful. A thorough account of the events surrounding Saramaka lifeBy Andre Sam-Sin"Alabi's World" is thorough (some note about that; later); captivating; and educational. To go to the cliche': "I have not been able to put the book down." I must qualify this by saying that my roots are from Suriname and therefore I have much interest in the material because of my familiarity with the settings. However; anyone interested in colonial history; African history as it pertains to the Western Hemisphere (slavery; slave rebellion; African customs of Maroons); will be thoroughly enlightened by the accounts charted in this book from the 4 perspectives listed above.Richard Price has painstakingly arranged his research in such a matter that you get 4 different perspectives of life in Saramaka (Maroon colony located in the interior of Suriname): German Moravian (religious sect); Dutch Colonist; Saramaka; and his own. It is neatly arranged so that the information flows like a captivating story in which you follow these historical characters and get caught up in their lives; motivations; changes...Because he has made one character the focal point; you get a more centralized view of what it was like in 18th century colonial Suriname and you can take away more detail from these individualized accounts.I have discovered a great source for Maroon history in Suriname and will be seeking out all of Richard Price's titles to get the complete story about the Maroons.
