Reclaims public speaking as a central cultural form of the nineteenth
century
- Places famous speeches by Emmeline Pankhurst, Abraham Lincoln, Mark
Twain and Oscar Wilde alongside previously unpublished texts
- Offers a more racially, ethnically and politically varied range of
speeches than ever collected before
- Includes illustrations and suggestions for further readings
- A 'how to use this book' section provides historical
contextualisations and valuable guidance for steering classroom
discussions
This pioneering collection brings alive the world of public speaking
between the American Revolution and the age of the Suffragettes. It
presents over seventy speeches by a diverse range of female and male
activists, politicians, tribal leaders, fugitive slaves and preachers
from both sides of the Atlantic, debating the crucial issues of the day,
from socialism and imperialism to slavery and women's suffrage. Complete
with detailed notes, introductions, illustrations and suggestions for
further reading, it provides a unique introduction to transatlantic
history and culture.