Personal Memoirs Of U. S. Grant. Grant, Ulysses S. Tr Am

First edition of the memoirs of the great Civil War general and 18th president of the United States, "perhaps the most revelatory autobiography of high command to exist in any language" (Keegan, p. 202). Written as Grant was dying of throat cancer and in dire financial straits, the work serves as a deathbed justification for the war against the Confederacy and for Grant's own conduct as commanding general of the Union Army. It was published by Mark Twain, Grant's close friend, who marketed it by using military veterans in uniform to raise subscriptions. "To read Personal Memoirs today with knowledge of the circumstances in which Grant wrote them is to understand the indomitable will and moral courage that were keys to his military success" (ANB). John Keegan, The Mask of Command, 1987. Two volumes, octavo. Publisher's deluxe brown half morocco, spine lettered and gilt in compartments, gilt medallic roundels to the boards, endpapers and edges marbled. Engraved portrait frontispiece and etched plate with tissue guard to each, 3 facsimile manuscript plates of which 2 folding and 1 on yellow ground, folding map at the rear of Volume II, numerous maps to text. Vol. I spine a little sunned, gilt to spines dulled, boards rubbed, touch of corner wear. A very good copy.