Gettysburg Address

by Abraham Lincoln

Overview

The Gettysburg Address was delivered on the afternoon of November 19, 1863 by Abraham Lincoln at the dedication of the battlefield of the Civil War's bloodiest battle. Included in this edition is the Bliss text of the address, contemporary reactions, and other important documents relating to this moving speech by one of America's most beloved Presidents.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781557090737
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	06/15/2010
Series:	Books of American Wisdom
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	667,254
Product dimensions:	4.10(w) x 6.60(h) x 0.30(d)
Lexile:	NC1420L (what's this?)
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865) was the 16th President of the United States. He successfully led the country through its greatest internal crisis, the American Civil War, preserving the Union and ending slavery. As the war was drawing to a close, Lincoln became the first American president to be assassinated. Before his election in 1860 as the first Republican president, Lincoln had been a lawyer, an Illinois state legislator, a member of the United States House of Representatives, and twice an unsuccessful candidate for election to the U.S. Senate.

Editorial Reviews

McCurdy creates powerful, large-scale black-and-white illustrations like those in his Giants in the Land to match Abraham Lincoln's classic speech in this handsome volume. On oversize pages, scenes of Lincoln delivering the address at the Gettysburg battlefield alternate with visualizations of the imagery contained in it. For example, a line of people carrying building tools marches across the pages as Lincoln proclaims that ``it is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work.'' As Lincoln concludes, resolving that ``government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth,'' the cheering crowd gazes out from the page into the future-a fitting conclusion to an American classic made new again. All ages. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

K Up-McCurdy brings the important words of America's 16th president to life for a new generation of children bombarded by violent acts. With just a few lines of Lincoln's speech per double-page spread, a pace is established that allows the language to sink in and take hold. The wood engravings, depicting sweeping panoramas and crowds that continue beyond the page, provide the dark serious tone and high drama appropriate for the subject. (Interestingly, wood engravings were the choice of Leonard Everett Fisher in his interpretation of The Gettysburg Address [Watts, 1963; o.p.]). The scenes alternate between the action of battle and the quiet artifacts left behind, from a parade of slaves-``all men are created equal,'' to a processional of spirited laborers-``dedicated...to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.'' These are interspersed with views of Lincoln addressing the crowd from various perspectives. A brief foreword by Gary Wills, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Lincoln at Gettysburg (S.&S., 1992) provides insight into the reason for the common burial ground. An afterword by the illustrator explains his family connection to the Civil War and, therefore, his inspiration. A valuable addition for every collection.-Wendy Lukehart, Dauphin County Library, Harrisburg, PA

School Library Journal

An oversize book, this volume includes an introduction by Gary Wills, an afterword by the artist, and the text of the Gettysburg Address. The large black-and-white illustrations feature scenes of the orator and his audience, as well as pictures they might have imagined while listening to the speech--battle scenes and symbolic tableaux. Skillfully composed and occasionally striking, the artwork makes this a good choice for libraries with an audience for a picture-book edition of Lincoln's famous speech.

Carolyn Phelan