The Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant is an autobiography written by Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th President of the United States, and completed as he was dying of throat cancer in 1885.
It focuses primarily on his military career during the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War. Mark Twain published the two-volume series shortly after Grant’s death.
| Author | Ulysses S. Grant |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Memoir |
| Publisher | Charles L. Webster & Company |
| Publication date | 1885 and 1886 |
| Pages | 584 (Vol. I) 648 (Vol. II) |
| Dewey Decimal | 973.8 |
| LC Class | 10032706 |
| Text | Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant at Wikisource |
Just as Grant’s death was being lamented, Twain devised a novel marketing method to reach millions of veterans with a patriotic appeal. Thousands of agents scoured the North, following a script created by Twain; many were veterans clothed in their old outfits.
They sold 350,000 two-volume sets for $3.50 to $12 per set, depending on the binding (approximately $110 to $360 in 2021). Each copy had what appeared to be a handwritten letter from Grant. Julia Grant, Grant’s widow, got around $450,000 ($13,571,670 in 2021), implying a gross royalty before expenses of roughly 30%.
The general public, military historians, and literary critics have all praised U. S. Grant’s Personal Memoirs. Grant’s prose has been described as sharp, intellectual, and effective, and has received a lot of praise.
He took on the role of the honourable Western hero, whose strength comes in his honesty and forthrightness. He tells it like it is about his battles with both external Confederates and inside Army adversaries.
