Charles bracelen flood biography definition

The most fascinating chapters are at the start, the successive professional failures of Grant and Sherman prior to the war and their more or less stumbling into positions of command. The mid-bits are a gloss of Civili War history, rehash for anyone who's already soaking in this stuff anyway. Picks up again at the end with a vivid picture of the last weeks of the war, the atmosphere in Washington following Lincoln's assassination and the Grand Review of the victorious Union armies.

Makes me want to read their memoirs for more detail. Growing up I was fascinated with World War I, especially with the development of combat aircraft. As a middle-aged adult, I am still fascinated by the war and how it shaped the twentieth century. Flood bases his book on the members of the Lafayette Escadrille, Americans who volunteered to fight for France in the first world war.

America was still neutral and its citizens could not legally fight in the war, but joining the French Foreign Legion was a viable loophole. Some Americans joined the Legion and eventually found their way to pilot training. Other Americans volunteered to fly, and entrance into the into the program was rather lax as Flood tells of a one-eyed American passing the eye exam.

France needed help and Americans were willing to step up with visions of glory. There were colorful pilots. Bert Hall was a con man and a liar, but also produced some of the most interesting stories including of how he got caught up in the Russian Revolution while training new Russian pilots. He tried to escape back into Europe, but was turned back and crossed Russia on the Trans-Siberian Railroad, jumped a freighter to the US and ended up back in France.

Ironically, dying for two countries is what happened. Although Genet was still in the Lafayette Escadrille, America had entered the war on April 2nd making Genet the first official American casualty. Bigger than life people also had bigger than life pets like Whiskey and Soda, two lion cubs, the mascots of the squadron. War is hell and life in planes though romanticized was also hell.

Freezing at altitude facing a fiery death was a more probable outcome than glory. Even worst of time pilots were able to make the best of it. Stories of pilots flying behind enemy lines to ferry back wine or capturing a downed German pilot before he could burn his plane by punching him in the face. The German was outraged not by being shot down, but that another pilot resorted to using his hands in a fight.

Flood brings the story of the horrors and the lighter side of the war to light. I wish I had this book while I was growing up. It would have made a great addition to my collection. First to Fly is a great read for all ages interested in World War I. Very interesting description of the friendship between Grant and Sherman during the Civil War, and their key roles in winning the war.

He then goes on to demonstrate the growing trust between the two generals during the early charleses bracelen flood biography definition of the war. See More Reviews. List Stacks. What A Year: Books titled with a particular year 1. By Award By Work. Audie Award. Booklist Editor's Choice: Adult Books. A distant drum Fiction — This selection will begin on October 4, and will continue for three months October, November and December.

This discussion will be led by Bryan. Bryan has an extraordinary background and will be a great moderator to lead this discussion. He has assumed the responsibilities for the Presidential Series reads and will be leading these book discussions. We have added all of the books nominated on the Ulysses S. Grant thread and a few others. However, if you do not see your favorite book on this list; then just comment or pop me a note and I will immediately add it to this poll.

You can always change your vote at any time; so nothing is lost. Some of the Grant books deal with only a certain period of his life, some may be multi-volume if so- I have added both separatelysome deal with other topics too; some are all encompassing, others deal with specific events in Grant's life or presidency and others are by the man, himself.

Before making your selection, please try to look up your choice and make sure it really is a book you are interested in; do not be lured in by the title. Also, check out the author and what others have said about the book before you reviewers who you trust. Then of course, make your selection. Fuller by Ulysses S. Sign in to vote ».

Topics Mentioning This Author. Planning 9 24 Feb 19, AM More…. Welcome back. As he began to write his memoirs in an effort to make some money, he was diagnosed as having cancer of the mouth and throat—the result of many years of smoking cigars. Twenty years after he set new standards of military honor by his magnanimous treatment of Robert E.

Lee and his men during the surrender at Appomattox Court House, the entire nation, North and South, joined in wishing him well, and in hoping that he could finish his book before he died. What passed between Grant and Robert E. Lee at Appomattox is one of the most famous moments of the Civil War. Did you find parallels between their stories?

Each man was the most aggressive general on his side but, after the war, both worked hard for reconciliation. Lee gave a fine example of dignified acceptance of defeat by his innovative and forward-looking presidency of Washington College in Lexington, Virginia, which upon his death five years after the war was renamed Washington and Lee University.

In a little-remembered gesture, just weeks after he was inaugurated as president, Grant invited Lee to call on him at the White House. Lee understood that by inviting him, Grant was inviting the South back to the White House. After a visit of some fifteen minutes, the two men shook hands and parted. They never saw each other again.

Where did you find them? One of the great feats of American scholarship is the multi-volume Papers of Ulysses S. Grant, edited by John Y. She wrote some splendid descriptions of Grant as she remembered him from her childhood. Julia was nine when he died, and she saw him frequently during the last year of his life. She was at his charles bracelen flood biography definition, and later wrote about it in a vivid and moving way.

Who were Ferdinand Ward and James D. He put all his own money and that of his immediate family into the firm. When their financial house of cards collapsed, the true facts became known: Grant and Ward owed its investors sixteen million dollars and actually only had assets of sixty-seven thousand dollars. Most people were sympathetic, and a number of individuals sent him some money.

Both Ward and Fish ended up serving prison terms. Many people might not know that one of the men closest to Grant in his final year was Mark Twain. How did the two first meet, and what was their relationship? Grant and Twain already knew each other, but by they were the two most famous men in America.

Charles bracelen flood biography definition

Twain had published his Adventures of Tom Sawyer and was about to publish Huckleberry Finn, and Grant was on his way to being the most photographed man of the nineteenth century. In his effort to make some money, Grant was already writing some articles about his Civil War battles and campaigns, and had decided to expand these articles into a book that would be called Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S.

At that point Twain appeared and offered to publish the book himself. He offered Grant very generous terms, but thought that the book would make a big profit. When Twain saw what Grant was producing, he saw that it had remarkable literary quality. There is no higher literature than these modern, simple Memoirs. Their style is flawless One of the most striking things about the reaction was that so many in the South, including Confederate veterans, joined the North in wishing him well in this painful crisis.

A reporter from the New York Tribune approached a Union Army veteran, a countryman who was missing an arm and limping along on a cane, and asked him why he was there. When the Battle of the Wilderness was over and the Rebs had taken to their heels, I was a-lying in a shady spot I had a-crawled to, when the General rode by. That was my last battle and I never saw him again.

I buy a paper every night just to see how you are. Last night, I was so glad to read you had gone for a drive [in Central Park]. Load more.