Selected Speeches and Writings: Abraham Lincoln
by Abraham Lincoln
Our Price: $75.99
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Abraham LincolnEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 1992-02-18
ISBN: 0679737316
Number of pages: 552
Publisher: Vintage
Book Reviews of Selected Speeches and Writings: Abraham Lincoln
Book Review: A Comment on Lincoln's Writing Style
Summary: 5 Stars
After perusing the voluminous annals of Lincoln's writings, scholars and laymen alike are astounded by his ability to set forth his views with clarity and logic in an age noted for for oblique, flourished writing styles reminescent of 18th century dinner invitations from the Queen. We also marvel at his ability to convey complex thoughts and feelings in the style of an accomplished poet. He was indeed a master of the English language worthy of the high esteem for which he is remembered.
However, to my limited knowledge, no one has yet analyzed his writings from the perspective of his profession. He wrote in the style of the lawyer which he was to get the attention of impatient judges and juries who were likely illiterate. He had to appeal to people with little knowledge (including judges of the time), short attention spans, and do it in the least amount of time possible.
A good piece of legal writng is roughly divided into three parts. The first is a statement of the facts, the second an analysis of those facts in the context of applicable law and the third the conclusion (or, in the case of judges), a definitive holding. Lincoln consciously selected each word for a purpose and arranged his arguments in logically ordered paragraphs that ultimately supported, and persuaded others, to agree with his conclusion.
It does not take much time to observe his style just by flipping through the pages of Lincoln's speeches, letters and other writings set forth in the unadulterated versions set forth in the books published by the Library of America. Every piece of writing, including his short notes, begins with a strong topic sentence that sets forth the subject of the remainder of the paragraph without any wasted words. And each paragraph is arranged in an order to support the point he intendes to make. He keeps it simple and directs his writing to one single memorable point. One cannot mistake or misinterpret his ultimate conclusion. And he uses humor and twists of language to make his missives memorable. Neither judges nor juries could retire to contemplate a case without remembering something pleasantly unusual about his mastry of language, a talent that undoubtedly redounded to the benefit of his clients. He was very sucessful at what he did, both professionally and monetarily.
For decades children have memorized the Gettysburg Address and we have all admired the lofty and almost spiritual words of his Second Inaugral Address.
However, I have yet to see a careful analysis of Lincoln't First Inaugral Address and the astounding words he carefully crafted. The speech reads like a legal opinion but with a curious conclusion set forth in the topic sentence of the 13th paragraph. He wrote:
"I hold, that in contemplation of universal law, and of the Constitution, the union of these states is perpetual. Perpetuality is implied, if not expressed, in the fundamental law of all national governments".
That's it. The rest is a description of the nature of a union of states along with an appeal to the Southerners not to make rash decisions. ("Nothing valuable can be lost by taking time.")
When writing a holding of an opinion, judges most always set forth their strongest supporting reasons first and the "lesser" justifications thereafter. And Lincoln was no different.
Lincoln's best argument for his conclusion that the Union could not be dissolved was based on, as he stated, "Universal Law". I wonder how the scholars missed that one. Lincoln would never insert a "throw-away line", particularly when making such a monumental statement.
Academicians shy away from anything that could smack of religion or spirituality. They want "just the facts". And it is an undisputed fact that Lincoln was not a religous man, at least in the sense that he had no interest in any theology and never went to church. Perhaps scholars accept those facts only and disregard Lincoln's actual statement as filler material. At minimum, the fact is that scholars and students of Lincoln have never attempted to understand Lincoln's carefully chosen words.
It appears that Lincoln made his most important decisions while alone and only after hours, days, weeks, months or years of careful thought. Did he arrive at his conclusions solely by the careful application of traditional logic or did he simply wait and listen for an answer? And, if so, from whom?
It would indeed be an interesting adventure to read the Library of America's unadulterated speeches and writings of Lincoln and attmpt to discern what the better angels of his nature were and how he managed to connect with a level of kind forgiveness beyond his own self-taught understanding. Someone having more time and knowledge than me should take Lincoln at his literal word and investigate the meaning of what he said.
History Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Audiobooks on Cassette
- Audiobooks on CD
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- e-Books
- Engineering
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Medicine
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Lincoln Speeches and Writings
Lincoln: His Speeches and Writingsby Roy Basler, Carl Sandburg, Roy P. Basler
Da Capo Press; Published: 2001-12-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.96
Price in other shops:
Selected Speeches and Writings: Abraham Lincolnby Abraham Lincoln
Vintage; Published: 1992-02-18; Paperback; Book
Best price: $15.00
Price in other shops:
Lincoln: Speeches and Writings: Volume 2: 1859-1865 (Library of America)by Abraham Lincoln
Library of America; Published: 1989-10-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $14.83
Price in other shops:
Lincoln President-Elect: Abraham Lincoln and the Great Secession Winter 1860-1861by Harold Holzer
Simon & Schuster; Published: 2008-10-21; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $0.01
Price in other shops:
Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation: The End of Slavery in Americaby Allen C. Guelzo
Simon & Schuster; Published: 2006-11-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.73
Price in other shops:
Emancipation Proclamation (1863): A Milestone Documents Analysisby Carl Rollyson
Schlager Group; Published: 2008-11-07; Digital; Book
Best price: $6.99
This Fiery Trial: The Speeches and Writings of Abraham LincolnOxford University Press, USA; Published: 2002-10-17; Paperback; Book
Best price: $18.40
Price in other shops:
Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address (1865): A Milestone Documents Analysisby Christine Dee
Schlager Group; Published: 2008-11-07; Digital; Book
Best price: $6.99
The Gettysburg Gospel: The Lincoln Speech That Nobody Knows (Simon & Schuster Lincoln Library)by Gabor Boritt
Simon & Schuster; Published: 2008-02-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $0.20
Price in other shops:
Abraham Lincoln's "House Divided" Speech (1858): A Milestone Documents Analysisby Robert Montgomery
Schlager Group; Published: 2008-11-07; Digital; Book
Best price: $6.99
Similar books summaries and other product reviews
Great American Short StoriesDell; Published: 1985-10-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.45
Price in other shops:
Nature and Selected Essays (Penguin Classics)by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Penguin Classics; Published: 2003-05-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.96
Price in other shops:
Lincoln's Constitutionby Daniel A. Farber
University Of Chicago Press; Published: 2004-10-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.32
Price in other shops:
Democracy in Americaby Alexis de Tocqueville
University Of Chicago Press; Published: 2002-04-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.23
Price in other shops:
John Wesleyby Germano Celant, John Wesley
Fondazione Prada; Published: 2009-10-31; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $81.90
Price in other shops:
Three Negro Classicsby Booker T. Washington, William E. B. Dubois, James W. Johnson
Avon; Published: 1999-02-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.99
Price in other shops:
The Portable Edmund Burke (Portable Library)by Edmund Burke
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 1999-07-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.99
Price in other shops:
Lincoln: Speeches and Writings: Volume 2: 1859-1865 (Library of America)by Abraham Lincoln
Library of America; Published: 1989-10-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $17.69
Price in other shops:
Three Centuries of American PoetryBantam; Published: 1999-03-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $13.83
Price in other shops:
The Wit and Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln: A Book of Quotations (Thrift Edition)by Abraham Lincoln
Dover Publications; Published: 2005-08-08; Paperback; Book
Best price: $0.13
Price in other shops: