Eloquence Is Power: Oratory and Performance in Early America

by Sandra M. Gustafson

Sandra Gustafson examines the verbal art of speech in sacred, political and diplomatic forms as it was created and practiced in colonial America and the early republic. She demonstrates that, in the distinctly American interaction of cultures, contact and conflict among Europeans, native Americans, and Africans gave particular significance and complexity to the uses of the spoken word.

316 pages, Paperback

First published August 28, 2000

About the author

Sandra M. Gustafson (BA, Cornell University; PhD, University of California at Berkeley) is Professor of English and Concurrent Professor of American Studies, Department of English, University of Notre Dame.
She specializes in American literature and culture, the American novel, political theory, peace studies, and the study of civil and human rights.
Gustafson is a member of the editorial board of the Norton Anthology of American Literature.

Reviews

[Jamie]

Interesting look at the role of speech and text in early America...

highly informative and insightful.

[Amelia]

Anyone interested in performance theory and/or the oratory needs this text.