Four score and seven years ago . . . . Are any six words better known; of greater import; or from a more crucial moment in our nation’s history? And yet after 150 years the dramatic and surprising story of how Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address has never been fully told. Until now. Martin Johnson's remarkable work of historical and literary detection illuminates a speech; a man; and a moment in history that we thought we knew. Johnson guides readers on Lincoln’s emotional and intellectual journey to the speaker’s platform; revealing that Lincoln himself experienced writing the Gettysburg Address as an eventful process that was filled with the possibility of failure; but which he knew resulted finally in success beyond expectation. We listen as Lincoln talks with the cemetery designer about the ideals and aspirations behind the unprecedented cemetery project; look over Lincoln's shoulder as he rethinks and rewrites his speech on the very morning of the ceremony; and share his anxiety that he might not live up to the occasion. And then; at last; we stand with Lincoln at Gettysburg; when he created the words and image of an enduring and authentic legend. Writing the Gettysburg Address resolves the puzzles and problems that have shrouded the composition of Lincoln's most admired speech in mystery for fifteen decades. Johnson shows when Lincoln first started his speech; reveals the state of the document Lincoln brought to Gettysburg; traces the origin of the false story that Lincoln wrote his speech on the train; identifies the manuscript Lincoln held while speaking; and presents a new method for deciding what Lincoln’s audience actually heard him say. Ultimately; Johnson shows that the Gettysburg Address was a speech that grew and changed with each step of Lincoln's eventful journey to the podium. His two-minute speech made the battlefield and the cemetery into landmarks of the American imagination; but it was Lincoln’s own journey to Gettysburg that made the Gettysburg Address.
#976809 in Books University Press of Kansas 2002-06-17Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.17 x .88 x 6.21l; 1.29 #File Name: 0700616551392 pages
Review
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful. Quest for a solutionBy Richard PetersonRobert Citino starts with a problem: from the middle of the 19th century; decisive battles; so common in the Napoleonic Wars; suddenly disappear. Although battles were still fought and won; they became increasingly sterile; deciding little. He shows that this had more to do with command; control and communication (C3) than increasing firepower or any imagined superiority of defense over attack. He then takes us through the campaigns of the early 20th century to see how the problem (and solutions) evolved. In the process; he gives us excellent operational histories of many little-known wars; such as the Russo-Japanese (1904-05) and Balkan (1912-13) wars; as well World War 1. This alone would make the book a "must-buy" for me. However; this is just a way to his goal of showing how battles once again became "decisive". His discussion of the inter-war period; which has been analyzed ad nauseum; still finds some new things to say. In particular; he shows how the radio was more important than the tank to Blitzkrieg. He winds up with the opening battles of world war 2; where mobility and decisiveness were restored to the battlefield.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Very Readable and autorized workBy Miguel A. Agreda GamarraThis book offer a very interesting work; (as Mr. Citino has offered before)with an added "plus" of readability that makes a Scholar book as an interesting Novel. Highly recommended.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Another Hit for Dr. CitinoBy Brent M. ZarzaDr Citino's newest book is a must read for anyone interested in expanding their knowledge of modern military history. I anticipated this books publication for over a year and was not disappointed. The focus of the Quest For Decisive Victory is the evolution of tactics and strategy to deal with the innovations in technology and the changing battlefield. From the rise of the "invisible battlefield" due to smokeless powder in the Boer War to the simple introduction of the wireless radio set to the tank intended as a replacement for hand flags as the main form of communication among tank commanders ; a weapon system or technical innovation is only as good as the commanding Generals understanding of its capabilities and how best to employ it in war. Dr. Citino Traces this process from 1899-1940 showing how the static stalemate of war first appearing in the Boer War and the Russo Japanese war was finally overcome by the "War of Movement" as practiced and envisioned by Guderian; Rommel; Fuller; and Von Seckt.
