Happy Halloween James A. Garfield!
I have no idea whether James Garfield took part in Halloween festivities during his childhood in rural Ohio, but among the …
Tag Archives: American history
The Best Biographies of Rutherford B. Hayes
After two weeks, two biographies and about seven hundred pages, Rutherford Hayes reminds me of a better-intentioned, more savvy and …
Review of “Rutherford B. Hayes” by Hans Trefousse
“Rutherford B. Hayes” is Hans Trefousse’s 2002 contribution to The American Presidents Series. Trefousse was an American historian, author and …
Review of “Rutherford B. Hayes: Warrior & President” by Ari Hoogenboom
“Rutherford B. Hayes: Warrior & President” is Ari Hoogenboom’s 1995 single-volume biography of our nineteenth president. Hoogenboom is professor emeritus …
Happy Birthday Rutherford B. Hayes!
After 21 months, 18 presidents and 86 biographies I’ve left behind the founding-father presidents, the nation builders, the expansionists, the …
The Best Biographies of Ulysses S. Grant
[Updated] Despite the pivotal role he played in the Civil War and the importance of his administration to Reconstruction, I …
Review of “The Man Who Saved the Union” by H.W. Brands
“The Man Who Saved the Union: Ulysses S. Grant in War and Peace” is H.W. Brands’s 2012 biography of the eighteenth …
The Civil War as Never Seen by Ulysses Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the ultimate hero of the Civil War in nearly every way. While Lincoln’s generals in the …
Review of “Ulysses S. Grant” by Josiah Bunting
“Ulysses S. Grant” is Josiah Bunting’s 2004 biography of the eighteenth U.S. president. Bunting is an author, retired officer in the US Army …
Review of “Grant” by Jean Edward Smith
“Grant” is Jean Edward Smith’s 2001 biography of the eighteenth U.S. president. It was the 2002 finalist for the Pulitzer …
Review of “Ulysses S. Grant: Triumph over Adversity” by Brooks Simpson
Brooks Simpson’s “Ulysses S. Grant: Triumph Over Adversity, 1822-1865” was published in 2000 and is the first of two expected …
Review of “Ulysses S. Grant: Soldier & President” by Geoffrey Perret
My second biography of the eighteenth president was “Ulysses S. Grant: Soldier & President” by Geoffrey Perret. An American historian …
Are You Ready for the Roosevelts?
(Photo courtesy of the FDR Presidential Library) At my current pace I expect to begin reading the best biographies of Teddy …
Review of “Grant: A Biography” by William McFeely
“Grant: A Biography” is William McFeely’s Pulitzer Prize winning 1981 biography of the Union general and eighteenth president. McFeely is …
Marching Ahead to Ulysses S. Grant
Having survived the presidency of Andrew Johnson, I’m moving on to six biographies of our eighteenth president, Ulysses S. Grant. …
My Journey Through the Best Presidential Biographies 