Reading this wonderful story is like being the proverbial fly on the wall and getting an intimate glimpse into the thoughts and life of Ulysses S. Grant in his last days as he struggles to leave a legacy for his beloved wife Julia, their children and grandchildren.

Clinch's prose draws the reader in and transports one to the era in question. I recommend this novel to those with an interest in history as well as any lover of good fiction.

The savior of the Union in the Civil War and twice-elected President is in a race with time, battling the ravages of throat cancer and the clock, to complete the autobiography he hopes will provide financial security for his family when he is gone. Central to his hope is the optimism and help of his friend Samuel Clemens/Mark Twain, who promises to publish the book.

As he scribbles away he reflects on his life and activities and the people he's known -- his boyhood in Ohio, West Point, the Mexican War, marriage to Julia and his time as a farmer in Missouri under the scrutiny of her bitter slave-owning father, the presidency, a period of Gilded Age celebrity, and the crushing scandal of financial ruin at the hands of a charlatan he trusted.

Through it all, Grant demonstrates the integrity and kindness of a decent human being and a true hero.

Jon Clinch leavens Grant's story with the viewpoints of a variety of other characters important to the tale, a method he's utilized to benefit in previous historical novels, including the brilliant Finn and Kings of the Earth.

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