American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant

Voice actor Morey tackles White’s sprawling biography of the larger-than-life Civil War commander and popular but often scandal-plagued president with characteristic poise and dignity. The audiobook veteran never misses a beat with regard to diction and pacing. The style of delivery seems akin to the narration of a made-for-TV historical documentary. It’s not that Morey doesn’t let himself demonstrate emotion—a couple of scenes in which Grant angrily disciplines soldiers for their mistreatment of horses certainly grab the listener’s attention, and the portrayal of Grant’s bitter feud with President Andrew Johnson adds an air of palpable soap-opera drama—but Morey maintains a somber presence befitting the nature of both the text and Grant himself. A Random House hardcover. (Oct.)