About the Book
Josiah Bunting's biography of Ulysses S. Grant is part of the American Presidents Series published by Times Books, a set of short, focused volumes assigning one author per president. Bunting, a military historian and former superintendent of Virginia Military Institute, brings a particular perspective to Grant: less interested in the battlefield legend than in the political figure who followed Lincoln into one of the most difficult presidencies in American history.
The book covers Grant's two terms in office from 1869 to 1877, centering on Reconstruction and the effort to protect Black civil rights in the South. Bunting argues that Grant's presidency has been consistently undervalued, partly because of the corruption scandals that surrounded his administration and partly because of how the post-war historiography treated Reconstruction itself. The military record is acknowledged but not the focus here.
At roughly 200 pages in print, this is a concise, argument-driven work rather than a comprehensive cradle-to-grave biography. Readers looking for a full account of Grant's life, his West Point years, his Mexican-American War service, his struggles before the Civil War, or the campaigns at Shiloh and Vicksburg, should look elsewhere, perhaps to Ron Chernow's 2017 biography. What Bunting offers is a sharply focused reassessment of Grant as president and political actor.
Narration & Audio Performance
Richard Rohan is a veteran audiobook narrator with a long list of nonfiction credits. His delivery is measured and clear, well-suited to the analytical, essay-like style Bunting uses throughout. He doesn't over-dramatize, which fits the tone of the book. This is academic-adjacent writing and Rohan treats it accordingly.
Character voice differentiation isn't a significant factor here since this is straight biography with no dramatized dialogue. Pacing is consistent and unhurried, which works for a short book with a fairly dense argument to follow. Listeners who prefer a more energetic delivery may find him dry, but for this kind of material, political history with a rehabilitation thesis, calm and precise is the right call.
Runtime is not listed in the available metadata. Given the print edition runs around 200 pages, the audio is likely in the three-to-four-hour range, making it manageable in a couple of sessions. Audible's sample will give you a clear sense of Rohan's register before committing.
The Audible Verdict
Bunting's Grant is a short, well-argued biography that holds up reasonably well in audio format. Rohan's narration is clean and appropriate for the material. The book doesn't rely on footnotes, charts, or visual elements, so nothing is lost in the audio version. It's not a production that stands out on its own merits, there's no full cast, no notable performance moments, but it does the job. A free trial credit is the right call; it's a good listen for the right audience but not exceptional enough to spend a paid credit on.
Listen on AudibleIs This Book a Good Fit for Audio?
This book is a reasonable audio fit. It's written as a sustained analytical argument rather than a reference work, so the linear structure translates cleanly to audio. There are no maps, charts, or data tables that would require visual access. The prose is formal but not so dense that missing a sentence is disorienting.
The short runtime is a practical advantage. At an estimated three to four hours, it's the kind of audiobook you can finish on a long drive or over a few commutes without losing the thread of Bunting's argument. Longer, more comprehensive Grant biographies, like Chernow's, are harder to hold together mentally in audio form over thirty-plus hours. Bunting's focused scope actually makes it better suited to audio than many biographies of comparable historical weight.
Popular Listener Questions
Is this a full biography of Grant's life or focused on a specific period?
It's focused primarily on Grant's presidency from 1869 to 1877. His military career is acknowledged but not the central subject. Readers wanting full life coverage should look at Ron Chernow's Grant or Jean Edward Smith's biography.
Is this part of a series?
Yes, it's part of the American Presidents Series published by Times Books, which assigns a different author to each president. Each volume stands alone and can be listened to independently.
Who is Josiah Bunting and why does his background matter for this book?
Bunting is a military historian and former superintendent of Virginia Military Institute. His background shapes his reading of Grant, he's attentive to how military experience informs Grant's approach to political authority and the use of federal power during Reconstruction.
Is the audiobook narrated by the author?
No. Richard Rohan narrates the audiobook. Bunting does not read his own work here.
How does this compare to the Chernow biography of Grant for audio listeners?
Chernow's Grant is comprehensive at over 48 hours and covers the full life in detail. Bunting's book is much shorter and more argument-focused, making it easier to absorb in audio format. They serve different purposes, Bunting is an essay-length reassessment, Chernow is the definitive account.
Similar Audiobooks
Ron Chernow's comprehensive biography covers the full arc of Grant's life and is widely considered the definitive account, a natural companion for listeners who want more than Bunting's focused presidential portrait.
Lincoln
David Herbert Donald's volume in the American Presidents Series offers similar concise, argument-driven treatment of a Civil War-era president.
The Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant
Grant's own account of his military career is a classic of American autobiography and a direct companion to any biography of him, the audiobook version is available and covers ground Bunting deliberately leaves aside.
After the War: The Lives of the Civil War Generals
For listeners interested in how Civil War military figures navigated the post-war political landscape, this thematic overlap makes it a useful pairing with Bunting's reassessment of Grant's presidency.
Reconstruction: America's Unfinished Revolution
Eric Foner's account of Reconstruction covers the political environment Grant was operating in, useful background for understanding the stakes of Bunting's argument about Grant's presidency.
Audiobook Details
| Title | Ulysses S. Grant |
|---|---|
| Author | Josiah Bunting |
| Narrator | Richard Rohan |
| Genre | Presidential Biography |
| Year | 2004 |
| Publisher | Macmillan |
| Abridged | Unabridged |
| Cast | Single narrator |
| Author-narrated | No |
Ready to listen?
This audiobook is available on Audible and is a practical use of a free trial credit for anyone interested in Grant's presidency or the politics of Reconstruction.
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