• Published by Greenhaven Press

In Greenhaven's Great Speeches in History series, passionate and influential personalities speak directly to the reader about the most important issues that have engaged great thinkers throughout history. Each volume contains eighteen to twenty-five speeches that trace a historical period or issue. These documents allow the reader to get a feel for the tenor of the time period being studied and to appreciate the sense of urgency that pervaded dramatic social and political upheavals.

A substantive introductory essay provides context and background on the time period and topics under discussion. Each book is then divided into chapters that focus on particular themes or eras. A brief introduction to each speech identifies the author and sets the scene for each speech, often providing vivid details about the orator's speaking style and the audience's response to his or her words. Each volume contains an appendix of biographical sketches that provides telling information on the backgrounds and lives of history's greatest speakers.

• Primary sources edited for readability
• Bibliography for further research
• Annotated table of contents
• Chronology of events
• Appendix of biographies of speakers

"This dynamic anthology does an excellent job of combining social histroy with biography and passionate politics. The leaders speak with immediacy and conviction. Landmark moments are captured here. Besides a general historical overview, headnotes provide historical context and a brief analysis. The contents page is annotated, and a useful appendix provides a one-page biography of each speaker. The voices, heard from a public platform and directed to a wide audience, have a wonderful informality that is much more accessible than written analysis. Students will find this a gripping collection for their personal interest and for research."
-- Booklist (October 2001)

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