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Loading... The Lincoln-Douglas Debates (edition 2009)by Abraham Lincoln, Stephen Douglas, Richard Dreyfuss (Reader), David Straithairn (Reader)This is an audio book. It is very well read by the narrators, one of whom is Richard Dreyfus. This rendition is quite revealing historically. I believe Lincoln came out not quite the hero we thought, and that Stephen Douglas not quite the bad guy as our teachers portrayed him. The difficulty truly is that each man was playing to the audience, and a modern listener is not going to get the nuance of these debates such that we would understand how each man truly felt. But the narration is so good and communicates character so well, that it merits an effort to either borrow or buy it (like on Audible.com). Having said all that, the Quality of the debate between Lincoln and Douglas is one for the ages! A lot of time is spent hashing and re-hashing the issues of the day, and bickering over things that seem down-right trivial today. But the core of the debate is well worth the lulls. Both men make strong arguments. The logic of Douglas’s arguments would find a lot of support today (and do in both the abortion and gay marriage debates). Because of that, Lincoln’s rejoinders are as important now as they were when he fought for abolitionism. I really wanted to enjoy this book. This version is the complete unedited (or at least as close as possible) version of what both Lincoln and Douglas said. I expected the Gettysburg Address, instead, most of time was taken up attacking the opponent in a manner that modern-day politicians are all-too familiar with. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)973.68History and Geography North America United States 1845-1861 James Buchanan (4 Mar. 1857-4 Mar. 1861)LC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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