A portrait of the life and times of Ulysses S. Grant describes how a reluctant soldier became the triumphant leader who led the Union to victory in the Civil War. Grade 5 Up-Marrin gives an interesting overview of the many phases of history through which Grant lived and places him within the context of his time. He presents the paradoxical aspects of his subject's life and is unflinching in recounting Grant's failures as a civilian and as president. The rumors of his drinking are fully disclosed, as are his triumphs in battle. Well-chosen and informative black-and-white photographs and reproductions add to the appeal of this handsome, oversized volume. An excellent bibliography is appended, as are detailed notes. A well-written, lively, and informative biography that fills a real need, and will be much appreciated by both history students and Civil War buffs. Elizabeth M. Reardon, McCallie School, Chattanooga, TN Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. Gr. 6-12. Part history, part biography, this is a fine study of Grant and his pivotal role in the Civil War. Marrin points out the many ironies of Grant's life: educated at West Point and a soldier by trade, he hated war; he seemed a failure until the war drew him from obscurity and brought his best qualities into prominence; repelled by the sight of blood since childhood, he led forces into the Battle of Shiloh, still remembered as a bloodbath; the leader of the Union army and a man who had freed his slaves, he once said he was not an abolitionist or even antislavery; anything but a politician, he became president of the U.S. Using these paradoxes to explore who Grant was and how he shaped events, Marrin creates a detailed and lively picture of the man and those who fought under him throughout the war. Well researched and vividly written, the book includes many quotations as well as photographs from the period. Source notes and a bibliography round out this very readable biography. Carolyn Phelan Dramatic yet well balanced, a biography framed by chapters outlining Grant's earlier and later life while focusing on his major military campaigns and offering perspectives of civilians in charge as well as of generals and the soldiers who carried out their orders. The author is particularly effective in depicting motivations, whether of patriotic ordinary soldiers or scheming generals; he points out that Lee personally abhorred both slavery and secession but felt honor bound to defend his home state, while Lincoln, Grant, and other Union generals insisted that they were fighting only to preserve the Union. Graphically, he portrays the waste and slaughter that destroyed young soldiers' visions of easy victories, and the sufferings of civilians in this first ``total war.'' Moving effortlessly from one viewpoint to another, Marrin considers Grant's mistakes and failures along with his hard-won successes, humanizing his portrait with details of a loving family life and struggles with political and military enemies. An excellent complement to Jim Murphy's The Boy's War (1990). Contemporary illustrations (mostly portraits); source notes; extensive bibliography; index. (Biography. 12+) -- Copyright ©1994, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. Albert Marrin is Chairman of the History Department at Yeshiva University. Used Book in Good Condition