Nonfiction history books have a clear and disciplined structure. Historical fiction is a recognized genre with its own well-established norms. This book calls itself a biographical novel. I suppose it is a historical novel about one person’s life, but I found the book neither fish nor fowl. The narrative sometimes seemed like a history book without endnotes, and at other times like a novel absent the art of storytelling. The dialogue is unnatural, the pacing is sometimes slow, and the narrative is emotionless. Skimin has the facts right, and the book gives a good perspective on Grant’s life. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this book.