Lincoln at Gettysburg

The Words that Remade America

By: Garry Wills

Narrated by: Garry Wills

Pulitzer Prize, General Nonfiction, 1993

There is perhaps no more compelling example of the power of words than Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. In merely 272 words, Lincoln gave the nation "a new birth of freedom" by tracing its history to the Declaration of Independence, as well as incorporating elements of the Greek revival and Transcendentalism. Lincoln's entire life and deep political experience went into the creation of his revolutionary masterpiece. By examining both the Address and Lincoln in their historical and cultural context, noted historian Garry Wills breathes news life into words we thought we knew and reveals much about a President so easily mythologized but often misunderstood.©1992 by Literary Research Incorporated (P)1992 Dove Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A grand book Lincoln would have loved to read." (James David Barber, author of The Presidential Character)
"...stimulating, original, and altogether absorbing work." (David Herbert Donald, Harvard University)

For academics...

I was excited to gain some insight to this most famous of speeches. However, I struggled to pay attention and even sped up the delivery speed to finally finish listening. This is a book that only an academic would enjoy. And then probably only linguists. I am a political scientist and historian and was not all that interested in the content. My take-away is that Lincoln gave a great speech that was novel in its format and that he was very careful in crafting it. About 50 pages would have been enough to teach me that....

Dry, but informative

This is why most authors should not narrate their own work. The book itself had some compelling sections but was largely very dry.

Terrific book about the way the Gettysburg Address changed America

It’s an older recording. But it’s a really well-conceived, well-executed book. Short and sweet.

It exemplifies the writing habits that Wills praises in Lincoln.

Academic

I learned much more from this book than I expected to. It’s almost like a PhD dissertation, which I appreciate.

Great History!!!

Wonderful insight into the Real Gettysburg Experience.......... Terrific detail. It becomes real!!!!!