Description:
Editorial Reviews
Review
"Editor's Choice, 2023" —Booklist
"A vivid and sobering account of Grant’s efforts to crush the Klan in the South [that] gestures toward the fractured political landscape of the present day . . . Bordewich focuses on Grant’s antiterror policies, conveying the panoply of factors that led to their initial success and, later, to their tragic demise, [and] includes some heart-rending testimony from freedmen who were too terrified to go to the ballot box." —Jennifer Szalai, The New York Times
"[A] compelling chronicle [detailing] the astonishing brutality of the Klan . . . Bordewich is especially good on the origins of the Klan . . . [He] presents a convincing case that, left to their own devices, Southern whites were not about to confer real freedom on the freedmen. He is equally persuasive that by the end of Grant’s second term, Northerners were unwilling to commit the guns to police the South, much less the butter to rebuild it." —Roger Lowenstein, The Wall Street Journal
"This essential history details Ulysses S. Grant’s fight to dismantle the Ku Klux Klan during the course of his Presidency . . . Though his efforts were later gutted by a series of disastrous Supreme Court decisions, Grant’s victory, Bordewich argues, serves as a potent reminder that 'forceful political action can prevail over violent extremism.'" —The New Yorker
"Bordewich brings to life in painstaking detail the reign of terror that the Klan wrought. . . adds greatly to the growing literature on the Civil War’s aftermath. . . . a sobering reminder that rights gained can be easily taken away." —Riley Sullivan, The Civil War Monitor
"The first large-scale attempt to restore Grant’s presidency to a position of nobility for his campaign to suppress the Klan. It joins the shelf of Bordewich’s political histories, which have made him one of the outstanding independent scholars of American history. But Klan War outdoes them all, in terms of both the depth of its research and the passionate pace of its vivid storytelling . . . Bordewich’s Grant is determined, idealistic, and generous, and on those terms, it would not be too much to describe him as the first civil rights president." —Washington Monthly, Allen C. Guelzo
"Klan War is deftly written, and its pages are alight with rich details drawn from original sources. The book tells a heroic American story and reminds us, as Bordewich observes, that 'barbarism may lie only a small distance beneath the skin of a civilization.'" —Kevin R. Kosar, National Review
“[A] gripping account . . . Bordewich’s book should serve as a cautionary tale to keep us alert to the modern incarnation of the KKK, which has traded its bed sheets and hoods for coats and ties.” —Mark I. Pinsky, New York Journal of Books
“Gripping . . . Bordewich, drawing from a vast array of sources, recounts the Klan’s activities in appalling detail [and] brings to life a number of forgotten civil rights figures . . . In the latest experts’ poll, conducted in February 2024 by the American Political Science Association, Grant ranked seventeenth out of forty-five presidents, just below Ronald Reagan. Readers of Bordewich’s outstanding Klan War will agree that he may well be headed even higher in the future.” —David S. Reynolds, New York Review of Books
“By documenting what really happened in the bloody and vicious post–Civil War South and how it nullified official government policy, this history resonates on many levels . . . Bordewich introduces readers to Black leaders and white supremacist ideologues, sparing no fact, however grim, in his devastating history of how domestic terrorism tore apart the social, political, and other promises of emancipation.” —Mark Knoblauch, Booklist (starred review)
"A critically important revisionist history . . . A penetrating examination of the rise of the KKK . . . For Bordewich, Grant's decisive move proved that 'forceful political action can prevail over violent extremism.' Yet, as he makes clear in this significant work of scholarship, it did not stop the future systematic stripping away of Blacks' civil rights." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"[Bordewich] has found literary gold in his many primary sources . . . [He]s the master of the telling quotation, the appropriate anecdote." —John W. Davis, Decatur Daily
“Riveting . . . An astute assessment of an often overlooked episode in American history.” —Publishers Weekly
“A gripping, haunting story of how America’s original white supremacist movement used terrorism to crush multiracial democracy—and how, for a time, progressive elected officials in Washington allied with grassroots African Americans and their white allies to rout the reactionaries. This is history we need to vanquish violent intimidation in our own time, this time without quitting before the work is done.” —Nancy MacLean, author of Democracy in Chains and Behind the Mask of Chivalry
"An urgent history, in which the conception and spawning of the Klan, its anti-Black atrocities and crimes against humanity, the evolution of a General and President, and the possibilities and limits of political power all come roaring to life. As searing as it is suspenseful, Klan War delivers an incisive angle into a horrific chapter in American history, one that requires knowing today." —Ilyon Woo, author of Master Slave Husband Wife
"Fergus Bordewich is an expert at turning momentous questions in American history into absorbing narratives. With insight and telling details, he reveals how Grant—by nature no crusader—directed federal resources against Klan attacks on African Americans, only to be undercut by political attempts to appease the hostile Liberal Republicans. A fascinating and foreboding book." —T.J. Stiles, author of Custer's Trials (winner of the Pulitzer Prize)
"Grippingly tells the essential story of the unsung heroes who throttled the Ku Klux Klan's murderous domestic terrorism after the Civil War, only to watch helplessly as a tragic loss of political will frittered away much of that triumph. The lessons for meeting today's challenges are unmistakable and chilling." —David O. Stewart, author of Impeached: The Trial of President Andrew Johnson and the Fight for Lincoln's Legacy
"Bordewich has done it again—this time, resurrecting an incredible American story of one man’s determination to secure civil rights, equality, and justice for millions of African Americans. Deeply researched and delivered through magnificent and gripping prose, Klan Wars reclaims Grant’s historic battle to build a unified nation in the face of a pernicious, hate-filled movement that waged a vicious grassroots campaign to reassert white supremacy. A must read!" —Kate Clifford Larson, author of Bound for the Promised Land
"One of the most talented historians of our times tells the riveting story of Civil War hero President Ulysses Grant's forgotten war on the Ku Klux Klan during Reconstruction in this marvelous book. The ultimate failure to curb domestic terrorism in the post-war south carries an important lesson for our fraught times when some appeal to political violence to overthrow the US experiment in interracial democracy. This book should be required reading for all American citizens." —Manisha Sinha, author of The Slave's Cause: A History of Abolition
"Klan War takes readers into the courageous struggle of the Grant administration to defeat an American domestic terrorist campaign to overthrow the achievements of Radical Reconstruction. Bordewich’s compelling narrative, by turns, frightening, bracing, and timely, will remind readers that today’s battle between white supremacy and human justice has a long history." —Don H. Doyle, author ofThe Cause of All Nations and Viva Lincoln
“[Klan War] explains the political structure and motivations guiding the federal response to the Ku Klux Klan in more detail than any book I have read. . . . Bordewich uses significant original primary research to powerfully describe the personalities and motivations of, and relationships among, Grant and others crucial to shaping and implementing the national response.”—Mark Wahlgren Summers, The Journal of the Civil War Era
“Klan War stands as a significant contribution to altering [our] far too narrow perception of America’s 18th president.” —Brian Tanguay, California Review of Books
“A newcomer to the subject would be well advised to make this book the first that they read.” —Adam Fairclough, Indiana Magazine of History
About the Author
Reviews:
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful narrative history, problems with "footnotes"
(function() { P.when('cr-A', 'ready').execute(function(A) { if(typeof A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel === 'function') { A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel('review_text_read_more', 'Read more of this review', 'Read less of this review'); } }); })(); .review-text-read-more-expander:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid #2162a1; outline-offset: 2px; border-radius: 5px; } Compelling, well-written narrative. As a reader who is new to a lot of this material, I wanted easy access to the footnotes. However, the mechanism used in this Kindle version is not at all useful. There is no way to link directly to a note from the text. Rather, one must turn to the notes section, scroll until you find the note, which is not page referenced, and then, if you are lucky enough to find it, read the note. Going back is easy from the notes to the text, but such a way of doing things is unworkable.
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read, and relevant 150 years later
Every American should read this book and appreciate our voting rights in this country. What people endured and fought for remains painfully relevant today, and I am grateful for this excellently written book that clearly recounts the immense violence and political courage to secure rights for all Americans post Civil War. It is also good to see Ulysses S. Grant be rightfully reexamined as a great hero and leader of this nation, instead of the previous depiction of him as a corrupt drunk. Excellent book, excellent writing and analysis. Should be required reading in schools.
5.0 out of 5 stars Very detailed history of the Reconstruction
This book focuses on the Reconstruction period following the Civil War, particularly during the first presidential term of Ulysses S. Grant. It describes the political efforts in the southern states and in Washington to try to give freed slaves a chance to establish productive and dignified lives of their own, while at the same time trying to respond effectively to the Ku Klux Klan and other reactionary people who wanted to undo the result of the Civil War and re-establish some form of slavery. A key tension during this period was between reconstructionism, a proactive federal effort to create a peaceful multi-racial society by protecting and assisting the newly-freed people; and "redemptionism," a passive northern attitude, especially among the business elite that enabled backsliding and forgot past "unpleasantness."Bordewich describes in thorough detail how the Klan gained power, the many violent acts they carried out, and the failures of various efforts to appease them. Grant had initially been reluctant to intervene, not least because the Congress was unwilling to provide resources to do so. But as time went on and the atrocities piled up, Grant gradually increased his efforts. Ultimately the Klan itself was beaten back, but the fearful attitudes of southern conservatives continued unabated, violence continued, and inequality was further baked into the political system. Some lasting progress was made, in the form of new constitutional amendments granting freedom from chattel slavery and the right to vote. But as the north lost interest, southern reactionaries found other ways to institute indentured slavery and white supremacy.Bordewich is not a happy book, and many parts are quite painful to read. It's an important book in that it goes into depth about the motivations and pressures on the leaders and on common people who were embroiled in the conflict. It offers useful insight on why certain attitudes and fears persist, and how systemic racism comes into being and is perpetuated in spite of the efforts of well-meaning people.For those who long for a follow-up book that picks up where this one leaves off, I'd recommend:Joseph, Penial E. The Third Reconstruction: America's Struggle for Racial Justice in the Twenty-First Century. Basic Books, 2022. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09PL4YT58/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_d_asin_title_o00The second book does a fast-forward to what the author describes as the "second reconstruction," the period from the Brown vs Board decision of 1954 to the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.; and the "third reconstruction," from the 2008 election of Barack Obama to the present. In a way, Joseph's shorter book is a reward for persevering through Bordewich. It is much more positive, particularly about the Black Lives Matter Movement. Both books discuss how leaders responded to successes and failures in their early efforts, to try to be more effective going forward. Much has been learned and considerable progress has been made, even if not fast enough for many of us.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great looking at history and racism
I love this book. He really laid out all his sources sights from history looking at racism.Would recommend if you want to understand fight that was had politically after the civil war
5.0 out of 5 stars If this were required reading in our schools, alongside the Constitution, it would be transformative
I realize this is a fantasy but, this book should be required reading in our schools. It won't be--particularly in a state like Florida, where it is now against the law to make people uncomfortable talking or reading about America's original sin. What I appreciated the most was the volume of detail that the author assembled. It seems odd to talk about murder, rape and torture as "engaging" but he found a way to do it. The avalanche of detail puts to rest the calumny about this nightmarish part of our history being exaggerated.I was particularly fascinated to learn the actual views of Horace Greeley, Hamilton Fish, and of course, the dastardly and faithless Carl Schurz. There's a six-part mini-series in the offing, one hopes, that will take us from Schurz's journey from the Rhine to Sleepy Hollow. And although I learned the term "carpetbaggers" in grade school, again it was the sheer volume of names and stories the author provided that made me understand how significant these people were, these purportedly effete Northerners from Ivy League schools who dared to think they could help the South recover.The portrait of Grant that emerges in this book is wonderfully nuanced. I am not one of those who has read biographies of all the presidents, so following the arc of his life was a revelation. I am certainly glad he's been re-evaluated as not one of the worst presidents of all time. Surely we have quite a few others who can wear that crown.Randomly, I also loved learning about the odd role of the Albany, NY jail in the Reconstruction, and the role of the NY Herald, which could always be counted on to say something vituperous, it seems.
5.0 out of 5 stars A Terrific but Disturbing Book
A brilliant, moving, and memorable account of a crucial moment in our history that has been sadly neglected. It is also another significant contribution to the much- needed reappraisal of U.S. Grant’s presidency.
1.0 out of 5 stars Missing pages
My copy also has a binding flaw. Pages 233-264 are missing and part of the index is inserted in place.
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read on Reconstruction, Grant and the Klan
An excellent and fascinating book. A sobering look at how many in the South actively resisted Reconstruction, Grant’s efforts to protect newly freed black citizens and the sad, gradual loss of interest by the North in the issue.
Publisher’s error
(function() { P.when('cr-A', 'ready').execute(function(A) { if(typeof A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel === 'function') { A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel('review_text_read_more', 'Read more of this review', 'Read less of this review'); } }); })(); .review-text-read-more-expander:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid #2162a1; outline-offset: 2px; border-radius: 5px; } I just received this keenly awaited book only to discover my copy is missing pages 233-65. In their place are pages from the index, which then appear again in their correct place at the end. I expected better from a quality publisher like Alfred A. Knopf.
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Klan War: Ulysses S. Grant and the Battle to Save Reconstruction
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Visit the Fergus M. Bordewich (Author) Store
Klan War: Ulysses S. Grant and the Battle to Save Reconstruction
AED10998
Quantity:
Order today to get by 7-14 business days
Delivery fee of AED 20. Free for orders above AED 200.
Imported From: United States
At BOLO, we work hard to ensure the products you receive are new, genuine, and sourced from reputable suppliers.
BOLO is not an authorized or official retailer for most brands, nor are we affiliated with manufacturers unless specifically stated on a product page. Instead, we source verified sellers, authorized distributors or directly from the manufacturer.
Each product undergoes thorough inspection and verification at our consolidation and fulfilment centers to ensure it meets our strict authenticity and quality standards before being shipped and delivered to you.
If you ever have concerns regarding the authenticity of a product purchased from us, please contact Bolo Support. We will review your inquiry promptly and, if necessary, provide documentation verifying authenticity or offer a suitable resolution.
Your trust is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in every transaction.
All product information, images, descriptions, and reviews originate from the manufacturer or from trusted sellers overseas. BOLO is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or an authorized retailer for most brands listed on our website unless stated otherwise.
While we strive to display accurate information, variations in packaging, labeling, instructions, or formulation may occasionally occur due to regional differences or supplier updates. For detailed or manufacturer-specific information, please contact the brand directly or reach out to BOLO Support for assistance.
Unless otherwise stated, all prices displayed on the product page include applicable taxes and import duties.
BOLO operates in accordance with the laws and regulations of United Arab Emirates. Any items found to be restricted or prohibited for sale within the UAE will be cancelled prior to shipment. We take proactive measures to ensure that only products permitted for sale in United Arab Emirates are listed on our website.
All items are shipped by air, and any products classified as “Dangerous Goods (DG)” under IATA regulations will be removed from the order and cancelled.
All orders are processed manually, and we make every effort to process them promptly once confirmed. Products cancelled due to the above reasons will be permanently removed from listings across the website.
Description:
Editorial Reviews
Review
"Editor's Choice, 2023" —Booklist
"A vivid and sobering account of Grant’s efforts to crush the Klan in the South [that] gestures toward the fractured political landscape of the present day . . . Bordewich focuses on Grant’s antiterror policies, conveying the panoply of factors that led to their initial success and, later, to their tragic demise, [and] includes some heart-rending testimony from freedmen who were too terrified to go to the ballot box." —Jennifer Szalai, The New York Times
"[A] compelling chronicle [detailing] the astonishing brutality of the Klan . . . Bordewich is especially good on the origins of the Klan . . . [He] presents a convincing case that, left to their own devices, Southern whites were not about to confer real freedom on the freedmen. He is equally persuasive that by the end of Grant’s second term, Northerners were unwilling to commit the guns to police the South, much less the butter to rebuild it." —Roger Lowenstein, The Wall Street Journal
"This essential history details Ulysses S. Grant’s fight to dismantle the Ku Klux Klan during the course of his Presidency . . . Though his efforts were later gutted by a series of disastrous Supreme Court decisions, Grant’s victory, Bordewich argues, serves as a potent reminder that 'forceful political action can prevail over violent extremism.'" —The New Yorker
"Bordewich brings to life in painstaking detail the reign of terror that the Klan wrought. . . adds greatly to the growing literature on the Civil War’s aftermath. . . . a sobering reminder that rights gained can be easily taken away." —Riley Sullivan, The Civil War Monitor
"The first large-scale attempt to restore Grant’s presidency to a position of nobility for his campaign to suppress the Klan. It joins the shelf of Bordewich’s political histories, which have made him one of the outstanding independent scholars of American history. But Klan War outdoes them all, in terms of both the depth of its research and the passionate pace of its vivid storytelling . . . Bordewich’s Grant is determined, idealistic, and generous, and on those terms, it would not be too much to describe him as the first civil rights president." —Washington Monthly, Allen C. Guelzo
"Klan War is deftly written, and its pages are alight with rich details drawn from original sources. The book tells a heroic American story and reminds us, as Bordewich observes, that 'barbarism may lie only a small distance beneath the skin of a civilization.'" —Kevin R. Kosar, National Review
“[A] gripping account . . . Bordewich’s book should serve as a cautionary tale to keep us alert to the modern incarnation of the KKK, which has traded its bed sheets and hoods for coats and ties.” —Mark I. Pinsky, New York Journal of Books
“Gripping . . . Bordewich, drawing from a vast array of sources, recounts the Klan’s activities in appalling detail [and] brings to life a number of forgotten civil rights figures . . . In the latest experts’ poll, conducted in February 2024 by the American Political Science Association, Grant ranked seventeenth out of forty-five presidents, just below Ronald Reagan. Readers of Bordewich’s outstanding Klan War will agree that he may well be headed even higher in the future.” —David S. Reynolds, New York Review of Books
“By documenting what really happened in the bloody and vicious post–Civil War South and how it nullified official government policy, this history resonates on many levels . . . Bordewich introduces readers to Black leaders and white supremacist ideologues, sparing no fact, however grim, in his devastating history of how domestic terrorism tore apart the social, political, and other promises of emancipation.” —Mark Knoblauch, Booklist (starred review)
"A critically important revisionist history . . . A penetrating examination of the rise of the KKK . . . For Bordewich, Grant's decisive move proved that 'forceful political action can prevail over violent extremism.' Yet, as he makes clear in this significant work of scholarship, it did not stop the future systematic stripping away of Blacks' civil rights." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"[Bordewich] has found literary gold in his many primary sources . . . [He]s the master of the telling quotation, the appropriate anecdote." —John W. Davis, Decatur Daily
“Riveting . . . An astute assessment of an often overlooked episode in American history.” —Publishers Weekly
“A gripping, haunting story of how America’s original white supremacist movement used terrorism to crush multiracial democracy—and how, for a time, progressive elected officials in Washington allied with grassroots African Americans and their white allies to rout the reactionaries. This is history we need to vanquish violent intimidation in our own time, this time without quitting before the work is done.” —Nancy MacLean, author of Democracy in Chains and Behind the Mask of Chivalry
"An urgent history, in which the conception and spawning of the Klan, its anti-Black atrocities and crimes against humanity, the evolution of a General and President, and the possibilities and limits of political power all come roaring to life. As searing as it is suspenseful, Klan War delivers an incisive angle into a horrific chapter in American history, one that requires knowing today." —Ilyon Woo, author of Master Slave Husband Wife
"Fergus Bordewich is an expert at turning momentous questions in American history into absorbing narratives. With insight and telling details, he reveals how Grant—by nature no crusader—directed federal resources against Klan attacks on African Americans, only to be undercut by political attempts to appease the hostile Liberal Republicans. A fascinating and foreboding book." —T.J. Stiles, author of Custer's Trials (winner of the Pulitzer Prize)
"Grippingly tells the essential story of the unsung heroes who throttled the Ku Klux Klan's murderous domestic terrorism after the Civil War, only to watch helplessly as a tragic loss of political will frittered away much of that triumph. The lessons for meeting today's challenges are unmistakable and chilling." —David O. Stewart, author of Impeached: The Trial of President Andrew Johnson and the Fight for Lincoln's Legacy
"Bordewich has done it again—this time, resurrecting an incredible American story of one man’s determination to secure civil rights, equality, and justice for millions of African Americans. Deeply researched and delivered through magnificent and gripping prose, Klan Wars reclaims Grant’s historic battle to build a unified nation in the face of a pernicious, hate-filled movement that waged a vicious grassroots campaign to reassert white supremacy. A must read!" —Kate Clifford Larson, author of Bound for the Promised Land
"One of the most talented historians of our times tells the riveting story of Civil War hero President Ulysses Grant's forgotten war on the Ku Klux Klan during Reconstruction in this marvelous book. The ultimate failure to curb domestic terrorism in the post-war south carries an important lesson for our fraught times when some appeal to political violence to overthrow the US experiment in interracial democracy. This book should be required reading for all American citizens." —Manisha Sinha, author of The Slave's Cause: A History of Abolition
"Klan War takes readers into the courageous struggle of the Grant administration to defeat an American domestic terrorist campaign to overthrow the achievements of Radical Reconstruction. Bordewich’s compelling narrative, by turns, frightening, bracing, and timely, will remind readers that today’s battle between white supremacy and human justice has a long history." —Don H. Doyle, author ofThe Cause of All Nations and Viva Lincoln
“[Klan War] explains the political structure and motivations guiding the federal response to the Ku Klux Klan in more detail than any book I have read. . . . Bordewich uses significant original primary research to powerfully describe the personalities and motivations of, and relationships among, Grant and others crucial to shaping and implementing the national response.”—Mark Wahlgren Summers, The Journal of the Civil War Era
“Klan War stands as a significant contribution to altering [our] far too narrow perception of America’s 18th president.” —Brian Tanguay, California Review of Books
“A newcomer to the subject would be well advised to make this book the first that they read.” —Adam Fairclough, Indiana Magazine of History
About the Author
Reviews:
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful narrative history, problems with "footnotes"
(function() { P.when('cr-A', 'ready').execute(function(A) { if(typeof A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel === 'function') { A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel('review_text_read_more', 'Read more of this review', 'Read less of this review'); } }); })(); .review-text-read-more-expander:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid #2162a1; outline-offset: 2px; border-radius: 5px; } Compelling, well-written narrative. As a reader who is new to a lot of this material, I wanted easy access to the footnotes. However, the mechanism used in this Kindle version is not at all useful. There is no way to link directly to a note from the text. Rather, one must turn to the notes section, scroll until you find the note, which is not page referenced, and then, if you are lucky enough to find it, read the note. Going back is easy from the notes to the text, but such a way of doing things is unworkable.
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read, and relevant 150 years later
Every American should read this book and appreciate our voting rights in this country. What people endured and fought for remains painfully relevant today, and I am grateful for this excellently written book that clearly recounts the immense violence and political courage to secure rights for all Americans post Civil War. It is also good to see Ulysses S. Grant be rightfully reexamined as a great hero and leader of this nation, instead of the previous depiction of him as a corrupt drunk. Excellent book, excellent writing and analysis. Should be required reading in schools.
5.0 out of 5 stars Very detailed history of the Reconstruction
This book focuses on the Reconstruction period following the Civil War, particularly during the first presidential term of Ulysses S. Grant. It describes the political efforts in the southern states and in Washington to try to give freed slaves a chance to establish productive and dignified lives of their own, while at the same time trying to respond effectively to the Ku Klux Klan and other reactionary people who wanted to undo the result of the Civil War and re-establish some form of slavery. A key tension during this period was between reconstructionism, a proactive federal effort to create a peaceful multi-racial society by protecting and assisting the newly-freed people; and "redemptionism," a passive northern attitude, especially among the business elite that enabled backsliding and forgot past "unpleasantness."Bordewich describes in thorough detail how the Klan gained power, the many violent acts they carried out, and the failures of various efforts to appease them. Grant had initially been reluctant to intervene, not least because the Congress was unwilling to provide resources to do so. But as time went on and the atrocities piled up, Grant gradually increased his efforts. Ultimately the Klan itself was beaten back, but the fearful attitudes of southern conservatives continued unabated, violence continued, and inequality was further baked into the political system. Some lasting progress was made, in the form of new constitutional amendments granting freedom from chattel slavery and the right to vote. But as the north lost interest, southern reactionaries found other ways to institute indentured slavery and white supremacy.Bordewich is not a happy book, and many parts are quite painful to read. It's an important book in that it goes into depth about the motivations and pressures on the leaders and on common people who were embroiled in the conflict. It offers useful insight on why certain attitudes and fears persist, and how systemic racism comes into being and is perpetuated in spite of the efforts of well-meaning people.For those who long for a follow-up book that picks up where this one leaves off, I'd recommend:Joseph, Penial E. The Third Reconstruction: America's Struggle for Racial Justice in the Twenty-First Century. Basic Books, 2022. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09PL4YT58/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_d_asin_title_o00The second book does a fast-forward to what the author describes as the "second reconstruction," the period from the Brown vs Board decision of 1954 to the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.; and the "third reconstruction," from the 2008 election of Barack Obama to the present. In a way, Joseph's shorter book is a reward for persevering through Bordewich. It is much more positive, particularly about the Black Lives Matter Movement. Both books discuss how leaders responded to successes and failures in their early efforts, to try to be more effective going forward. Much has been learned and considerable progress has been made, even if not fast enough for many of us.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great looking at history and racism
I love this book. He really laid out all his sources sights from history looking at racism.Would recommend if you want to understand fight that was had politically after the civil war
5.0 out of 5 stars If this were required reading in our schools, alongside the Constitution, it would be transformative
I realize this is a fantasy but, this book should be required reading in our schools. It won't be--particularly in a state like Florida, where it is now against the law to make people uncomfortable talking or reading about America's original sin. What I appreciated the most was the volume of detail that the author assembled. It seems odd to talk about murder, rape and torture as "engaging" but he found a way to do it. The avalanche of detail puts to rest the calumny about this nightmarish part of our history being exaggerated.I was particularly fascinated to learn the actual views of Horace Greeley, Hamilton Fish, and of course, the dastardly and faithless Carl Schurz. There's a six-part mini-series in the offing, one hopes, that will take us from Schurz's journey from the Rhine to Sleepy Hollow. And although I learned the term "carpetbaggers" in grade school, again it was the sheer volume of names and stories the author provided that made me understand how significant these people were, these purportedly effete Northerners from Ivy League schools who dared to think they could help the South recover.The portrait of Grant that emerges in this book is wonderfully nuanced. I am not one of those who has read biographies of all the presidents, so following the arc of his life was a revelation. I am certainly glad he's been re-evaluated as not one of the worst presidents of all time. Surely we have quite a few others who can wear that crown.Randomly, I also loved learning about the odd role of the Albany, NY jail in the Reconstruction, and the role of the NY Herald, which could always be counted on to say something vituperous, it seems.
5.0 out of 5 stars A Terrific but Disturbing Book
A brilliant, moving, and memorable account of a crucial moment in our history that has been sadly neglected. It is also another significant contribution to the much- needed reappraisal of U.S. Grant’s presidency.
1.0 out of 5 stars Missing pages
My copy also has a binding flaw. Pages 233-264 are missing and part of the index is inserted in place.
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read on Reconstruction, Grant and the Klan
An excellent and fascinating book. A sobering look at how many in the South actively resisted Reconstruction, Grant’s efforts to protect newly freed black citizens and the sad, gradual loss of interest by the North in the issue.
Publisher’s error
(function() { P.when('cr-A', 'ready').execute(function(A) { if(typeof A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel === 'function') { A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel('review_text_read_more', 'Read more of this review', 'Read less of this review'); } }); })(); .review-text-read-more-expander:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid #2162a1; outline-offset: 2px; border-radius: 5px; } I just received this keenly awaited book only to discover my copy is missing pages 233-65. In their place are pages from the index, which then appear again in their correct place at the end. I expected better from a quality publisher like Alfred A. Knopf.
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