Another “must”—this time a radio programme about Abraham Lincoln's
Gettysburg address, delivered at the turning point of the American Civil War. The
programme focuses on the form of the speech, and how Lincoln used the
English language to such powerful effect. He allowed himself just 270 words (less
than most press releases today) to describe the aims of modern government, as
properly understood. It had international resonance at the time, and is still remembered as one of the most important political speeches of the modern age. It was also a literary masterpiece, having the qualities of poetry in the apparently plain prose.
This programme describes all this very well. I
highly recommend it.
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