Ulysses S. Grant: An Album

I wish they hadn't marketed this as a photo book because there aren't any. At least there aren't many photos of Grant and the ones published are really bad. I was expecting some nice rare ones, but there weren't any. McFeely likes to write about Grant's private life, which is OK with me. Grant was one of these types of men who were uxorious around their wives, she was his best friend, lover, helpmate, a person he could talk to and make love to at the same time. They seemed very much in sync with one another and that's always nice to read a great love story. McFeely is less solid on everything else and I really didn't care much about Grant's travels. I did like the section on Grant's autobiography, which I have read and it's great. So 4/5 stars for this new effort.

I am a fan of William McFeely's other book on Grant. It's the one Grant biography I can read without getting a headache because he writes so nicely and fleshes out the human Grant. This book picks up where the other ones left off. There are chapters on Grant as a traveler, Grant on the slave issue and most of all, Grant as a husband. McFeely always had a special interest in Grant's relationship with his homely wife, Julia. Those two had special chemistry and McFeely makes hay out of that. All in all, a really good book; the photos are below average and not many of them, but Grant as a person comes out of the pages with a vibrant bang.

First, I wonder why the "Reader from Canoga Park, Ca" always refers to the other reviewer and her reviews of Grant books? Every time she reviews a Grant book, this gal butts in to talk about her, NOT Grant. Talk about being obsessed, Canoga Park. My suggestion: recover from your jealousy.The book is excellent. McFeely writes real well. The photos are disappointing and I didn't like the etching. McFeely won the Pulitzer Prize so he's obviously a good writer.

I don't know if the pictures of Grant were rare. I don't know that many pictures of him. But I will say the writing is very good. I know books about Grant from Mr. Catton and Mr. McFeeley writes as well, if not better than the former writer. I liked the way the book was arranged. I would've liked more pictures instead of drawings.P.S. Julia Grant WAS a silly woman. McFeeley says many nice things about her. It's not character assassination, he admires her.