Great British Speeches

Simon Heffer

Publisher: QUERCUS

Publication Date: 03/05/2007

Format: Hardback

Six centuries of sublime British oratory

For centuries the prime means of communication was the set-piece speech. Simon Heffer has selected 50 notable speeches from over 600 years of British history, ranging from the Middle Ages to the present.

Taken individually these speeches are landmarks, because they stake out positions at particular historical moments; and they often contribute significantly to their speakers’ reputations. Collectively they represent a concise history of the art of the speech.

The book includes biographies of each speaker and full details of the context in which the speeches were made, while iconic photography dramatically illustrates key figures and events in British history.

Includes:
• ‘All men were created equal’ – John Ball speaks to the rebels of the Peasants’ Revolt
• ‘I have the heart and stomach of a king’ – Elizabeth I inspires her troops to face the Spanish Armada
• ‘The total abolition of the slave trade’ – William Wilberforce advocates the ending of slavery
• 'Armed with the liberty of the press’ – Richard Brinsley Sheridan on the freedom of the press

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