Gettysburg Address

By: Abraham Lincoln

Narrated by: Ryan Vincent Anderson

Length: 2 mins

Publisher's Summary

The words of President Abraham Lincoln in the Gettysburg Address are as relevant and meaningful today as they were in 1863. This magnificent book is a stunning exploration of some of the most powerful words ever spoken in American history.

The Gettysburg Address is a speech by US President Abraham Lincoln, one of the best known in American history. It was delivered by Lincoln during the American Civil War, on the afternoon of Thursday, November 19, 1863, at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, four and a half months after the Union armies defeated those of the Confederacy at the Battle of Gettysburg.

Abraham Lincoln's carefully crafted address, secondary to other presentations that day, was one of the greatest and most influential statements of national purpose. In just over two minutes, Lincoln reiterated the principles of human equality espoused by the Declaration of Independence and proclaimed the Civil War as a struggle for the preservation of the Union sundered by the secession crisis, with "a new birth of freedom" that would bring true equality to all of its citizens. Lincoln also redefined the Civil War as a struggle not just for the Union but also for the principle of human equality.

Beginning with the now-iconic phrase "four score and seven years ago" - referring to the Declaration of Independence, written at the start of the American Revolution in 1776 - Lincoln examined the founding principles of the United States in the context of the Civil War and memorialized the sacrifices of those who gave their lives at Gettysburg and extolled virtues for the listeners (and the nation) to ensure the survival of America's representative democracy, that "government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth".

Despite the speech's prominent place in the history and popular culture of the United States, the exact wording and location of the speech are disputed. The five known manuscripts of the Gettysburg Address differ in a number of details and also differ from contemporary newspaper reprints of the speech. Modern scholarship locates the speakers' platform 40 yards (or more) away from the Traditional Site within Soldiers' National Cemetery at the Soldiers' National Monument and entirely within private, adjacent Evergreen Cemetery.

Public Domain (P)2019 Audible, Inc.

Gettysburg

Thanks audible for making this a free download. It's a great reminder for this great speech

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Powerful Speech

Abraham Lincoln’s words are as powerful as ever, and it’s great that Audible has made this available for free. I do wish Ryan Vincent Anderson sounded more like Lincoln however. Anderson has a smooth and strong voice, whereas Lincoln’s was noticeably high and twangy.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Fantastic performance

One of the greatest speeches to ever be written. Lincoln was truly before his time.

Relive such an important Speech

Every American should read and know this momentous speech. During the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln gave this speech while dedicating the cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to the soldiers that died there. Lincoln was incorrect in his stated assumption that no one would remember what he said that day long after the events occurred.

It is probably for the best that this was not intended to be a lasting piece of American political history. I think the Gettysburg Address works so well because it is short, concise, and heartfeltly tries to address the tragic moments of its initial deliverance. It is a great snapshot of that war, and captures the uncertainty of its resolution.

I listened to the 2 minute-long free version available on Audible, which is narrated by Ryan Vincent Anderson and is delivered so well. I think the version or others like it can add value to how we engage with history and continue to think about the past today. Of course, you can find the text of the speech for free online with a quick Internet search. I recommend everyone read this; and recommend those who read this for school to re-read this.

One of my goals for the next year is to read one of the great biographies of this renown President.