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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

Bob, that's correct: Grant, bankrupt, was desperate to generate money for his family and pay off his debts before he died a horrible death of throat and tongue cancer. Mark Twain, a friend, pushed Grant to write the book with the promise to edit the work -- in exchange for Twain publishing the memoirs. Grant won the race against time and the memoirs were published after his death to great critical acclaim.