The power of words has rarely been given a more compelling demonstration than in the Gettysburg Address. Lincoln was asked to memorialize the grue...
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Jun 17, 2010
Eric
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Lincoln was a “radical” in both senses: he broke with tradition by returning to the roots. The heart of Wills’s book is Lincoln’s elevation of the Declaration of Independence as a transcendental text above the earthly and provisional Constitution. The Constitution, with its tolerance of slavery, was felt by Lincoln and other transcendentalist political thinkers to require renewal by the Declaration, whose unequivocal proposition of equality for all constitutes the moral center of the American sy
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Nov 27, 2011
John
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This book is great. It's elegantly written, well-argued, well-documented and full of insight and information. Wills not only explains Lincoln's rhetorical techniques, he situates them in the context of classical rhetoric (in particular the ancient Greek funeral-for-heroes speech), American cultural trends of the mid 1800's (in particular Transcendentalism and the "rural cemetery" movement), and Lincoln's own history as a writer and giver of speeches.
Most importantly, he demo More...
Most importantly, he demo More...
Jul 23, 2011
Frank
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Just a beautiful piece of work that is also possibly the best book I've read on Abraham Lincoln. For one, Wills does a wonderful job of analyzing Lincoln's influences, from the Transcendentalism of Emerson and Theodore Parker to the oratory of the Greek revival movement to Romanticism, and all of it is so lucidly described and densely packed together that I often had to put the book down to absorb it all or think on it for a moment. Wills' main point though is that the Gettysburg Address, by mak
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Jun 24, 2010
Linda
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There are times in every nation’s history that serve as turning points, and the 1863 dedication of the Gettysburg Cemetery is one of America’s, largely due to the influence of Abraham Lincoln’s 256 word speech. Garry Wills puts paid to the notion that Lincoln dashed something off on the train ride to Gettysburg, painstakingly tracing the cultural, literary, historic, and philosophical underpinnings to one of the world’s oratory masterpieces. Wills also analyzes the surviving five drafts of the s
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Sep 08, 2009
Joe
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Wills takes us back not only to the day that Lincoln gave this speech, but also he starts off crafting deftly, and laboriously, our experiences while visiting a cemetery such as this one. That realm between the living and the dead should be used to remember and commemorate those that have fallen so that we can finish the work before us. Our work to reinvent the Union should be founded upon giving new meaning to "all men are created equal."
Also, Wills explains how revolution More...
Also, Wills explains how revolution More...
May 03, 2010
Jake
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The book "Lincoln at Gettysburg: Words That Remade America" by Garry Willis was a tough read for me. It took me nearly two-and-a-half weeks to read, and for most of the time, I didn’t understand what I was reading. When I did, however, I found the book extremely insightful, interesting, and thought-provoking.
To start, this book gives an in depth explanation on the relationship between the Greek oratory (speaking and writing) and Lincoln’s Address. The most inducing part of thes More...
To start, this book gives an in depth explanation on the relationship between the Greek oratory (speaking and writing) and Lincoln’s Address. The most inducing part of thes More...
May 25, 2011
Lora Leigh
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Okay, no one throw rocks at me yet. I picked up this book with high, high hopes. After all, I think it even won a pulitzer prize. The prologue was well-written and interesting, and then... it sunk. I started reading the first chapter and was bored to tears. A whole chapter on the breakdown of the ancient Greek style of speaking? I skimmed over to chapter 2 and didn't make it through that one either. So now it's lying neglected somewhere in our apartment. If I have dismissed this book way too soo
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Jun 20, 2010
Phillip
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A phenomenal book worthy of any history collection. Garry Wills' offers a unique approach to a well-studied President; understand the man through his words more than his actions. Wills dissects the most important speeches of Lincoln's career to address his philosophy, his mentors and the impacts he had on the Union. A superb book that could easily be read multiple times to fully gain the author's depth of knowledge. (Be forewarned, this is not a casual read but highly academic in structure an
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Mar 04, 2010
Pat
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This book is well researched, insightful, and in some places even illuminating, but it reads like a college thesis. Lincoln himself is not exactly the central figure, nor is the Gettysburg Address. For a while it seems Edward Everett (the featured speaker at the dedication)is the focus, then the history of ancient cemeteries looms largest, with rambling discussions of Greek and Roman resting places and their evolution from urban to rural, etc. etc. etc. I suppose in all fairness, I should mentio
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Aug 02, 2010
Mike
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Great analysis of the Gettysburg address. Lincoln interpreted the civil war not as a war between two peoples but rather as an insurrection. Thus it was a police action, not a war. He understood it as the ultimate test of the experiment of a people governing themselves. He argued that the Declaration of Independence laid out the ideal; that each person has inalienable rights; in the pursuit of these rights all men are equal. This was experimental at the time and the ability to self-govern was a n
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May 14, 2009
Ron
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A brief but thorough consideration of what Lincoln intended and accomplished in those 272 words of the Gettysburg Address. Wills grounds Lincoln's efforts in the bedrock of both the classical past and the more recent American antecendents of men such as Daniel Webster. He helps us to see that Lincoln did indeed take us along with him on the revolutionary step of of seeing the constitution through the lens and logic of the Declaration of Independence. And he is all the more effective in helping u
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Dec 17, 2008
Corey
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A fresh look at some of the most famous words spoken in American history. I've read dozens of books on Lincoln and each time I come away more amazed at his unique ability to write, speak, and think with such clarity and eloquence. Wills really brings this home and studies these most famous words of Lincoln's in a new way.
Very interesting read, particularly in the analyzation of the style and format of the speech. I thought that chapter was especially well done.
This book i More...
Very interesting read, particularly in the analyzation of the style and format of the speech. I thought that chapter was especially well done.
This book i More...
Jun 05, 2010
Don
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Interesting ... but, of course, Garry Wills is a bit of a show-off when it comes to high-brow stuff (those Catholic historians are like that), and that came through a little too loudly in the chapter on Oratory of the Greek Revival. That doesn't mean it was not all fascinating, but that Wills became a bit distracting.
But, hey, there has been so much written about this topic, that I'm sure he felt he needed to show that he was offering something special.
But, hey, there has been so much written about this topic, that I'm sure he felt he needed to show that he was offering something special.
May 20, 2010
Ross
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None better at going inside what shaped the most remarkable of all speeches. By holding up the Declaration as the grand political/revolutionary document it is, through illuminating the influence of the Transcendentalists on the scope of Lincoln's thought (as well as the Greeks), and offering the connections to Lincoln's construction unlike offered previously, this is as good as it gets when comes to examining the great man and his words. A wonderful effort.
Aug 26, 2011
Jennifer W
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That was a slog. I love the Gettysburg Address, I get misty-eyed every time I go to DC and see the Lincoln Memorial. I did learn a thing or two from this book, but I'd rather have my heartstrings pulled at the sheer beauty of the Address than understand the Roman roots or Transcendentalism or the Oedipus complex Lincoln may have suffered from. I hope to soon forget the heavy academia and get back to the joy of the awe-inspiring Gettysburg Address.
Aug 02, 2011
Do not read unless you find History profound. This book was so helpful for me in gaining some inspiration for the work I do. Lincoln fought for unity above all else..it was his foundational principle. Author said before Gettysburg u.s was a plural noun "The United States ARE a free government" after Gettysburg Address..singular "The United States IS a free government" That statement hit me. I love being more inspired toward unity.
Jul 13, 2011
Thomas
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I'm rereading this after almost 20 years and still regard this as a must-read. Wills spins several threads together: memorial landscape architecture, Greek funeral oration, the Transcendentalists, the gruesome battle site, and above it all the 272 words of Lincoln, which represent a pivot of history, a sly reframing of the idea of America from the flawed Constitution to the ideals of the Declaration of Independence.
Feb 16, 2009
Susan
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Most interesting discussion of the influences on Lincoln that helped shaped the Gettysburg Address. I found the discussion of the 19th century Garden Cemetery movement most interesting, especially after having visited Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn. However, the most interesting discussion was about the way in which Lincoln changed the perception of the US Constitution, an argument which I believe is correct.
Mar 05, 2009
Dave
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Lincoln at Gettysburg has alot of written letters and speaches from A. Lincoln. It's very interesting how short the Gettysburg Address actually was considering it's an important historical speach. The books explores the wisdom of Lincoln and his ability to articulate his idea's with powerful visions.
Aug 10, 2011
Alan
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An interesting quick book to read.
I did not know that Lincoln wrote poetry. I ordered a book of his poetry from the library.
I don't know that Lincoln had Greek orators in mind when he wrote The Gettysburg Address but the author makes a strong comparison.
I understand more about Edward Everett, the other speaker at Gettysburg that day.
Everett was a leading advocate of the Transcendental movement along with Emerson and Thoreau.
The book confirms how moving and powerful those More...
I did not know that Lincoln wrote poetry. I ordered a book of his poetry from the library.
I don't know that Lincoln had Greek orators in mind when he wrote The Gettysburg Address but the author makes a strong comparison.
I understand more about Edward Everett, the other speaker at Gettysburg that day.
Everett was a leading advocate of the Transcendental movement along with Emerson and Thoreau.
The book confirms how moving and powerful those More...
Jan 02, 2009
Andy
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This was great. I never realized how pivotal the few short words of the Gettysburg Address were in terms of both American History and the history of public oration style. This book analyzes it from many perspectives, Lincoln's personal issues at the time, the background of oration going back to Greece, even the importance of Cemetaries at that time.
Nov 29, 2010
Robert
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The myth is that Lincoln composed his Gettysburg address on the back of an envelope. Wills shows that it was the goal of his political life, one that his every action was aimed at.
One of my all-time favorites.
One of my all-time favorites.
Jul 22, 2011
The book was interesting, but because of my lack of American history knowledge, I found it difficult to finish reading. Maybe one day I'll be able to pick it up again.
Nov 03, 2009
Laura
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It was a rough read. Unless your really into Lincoln I would avoid it. The entire book is about the Gettysburg address. It was brutal; I am amazed I finished it.
Aug 14, 2007
Some time ago, it suddenly came to me that Lincoln's Gettysburg Address was in large part derived from Pericles' funeral oration, as reported by Thucydides. What a great revalation! Maybe I could write an article! So, I looked on the web only to discover that everybody had known this for a long time, and I was the last to find out. Oh, well.
The main speaker at the dedication of the Gettysburg cemetary was Edward Everett, whose supposed ramblings have always been unfavorably compared More...
The main speaker at the dedication of the Gettysburg cemetary was Edward Everett, whose supposed ramblings have always been unfavorably compared More...
Jan 24, 2011
Tom
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An exploration of why this brief address changed the direction for the american war and ever after.
Strongly recommended.
Strongly recommended.
Feb 18, 2009
Jon Edward
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I need to read this again. I remember I enjoyed it, but I don't remember enough details to comment here.
Oct 10, 2008
Tim
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This seminal book of one of the greatest speeches uttered by a mortal is a fascinating read. It explores the transcendental philosophies and funerary oratory devices that Lincoln incorporated in his dedicatory remarks at the cemetery in Gettysburg in November 1863. Gary Wills delves into all the rhetorical devices Lincoln used in his speech: his use of antithesis, pronoun/antecedent style, and the imagery of birth and death. Wills won the Pulitzer Prize for his efforts here ('92). It is a GREAT
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Aug 23, 2010
Riley
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I read this in preparation for a two-day trip to Gettysburg. The trip was great. The book wasn't.
Jul 29, 2010
Paul
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A whole book about a 15 minute speech.
That changed America!
Only Gary Willis could pull it off!
That changed America!
Only Gary Willis could pull it off!
