by Garry Wills
First published 2000
Garry Wills examines Abraham Lincoln's famous cemetery dedication speech at Gettysburg. The author argues that Lincoln achieved something remarkable within his brief 272-word address. The President drew upon three distinct intellectual traditions to reshape American understanding of the nation's purpose. Lincoln employed the rhetorical techniques of the Greek Revival movement, incorporated philosophical concepts from transcendentalism, and used symbolic language from the Rural Cemetery Movement. Wills demonstrates how these diverse influences converged in Lincoln's compact speech. The book reveals how the President used this ceremonial occasion to redefine American democracy and national identity. Wills shows readers how Lincoln's careful word choices and rhetorical strategies transformed a simple dedication into a foundational statement about American values and the meaning of sacrifice for democratic ideals.
Genres: biography, 20th-century, american, 19th-century, academic, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-fiction
Setting: Gettysburg
Period: 19th-century
428 pages · Hardcover · G K Hall & Co