Americans of the early Republic valued the art of eloquence, upholding the ideal that an impassioned, intelligent, and moral speaker will provide essential truths to a democratic audience. Drawing on nonfiction prose of the 1830s-1850s--especially orations, lectures, and addresses--James Perrin Warren sketches a cultural history of the reforming power of language. Antebellum America truly defined itself as a culture of eloquence. This disposition could be seen in the creation of new cultural spaces, such as the lyceum and ...
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Americans of the early Republic valued the art of eloquence, upholding the ideal that an impassioned, intelligent, and moral speaker will provide essential truths to a democratic audience. Drawing on nonfiction prose of the 1830s-1850s--especially orations, lectures, and addresses--James Perrin Warren sketches a cultural history of the reforming power of language. Antebellum America truly defined itself as a culture of eloquence. This disposition could be seen in the creation of new cultural spaces, such as the lyceum and popular lecture system, for speakers who were then measured against the ideals of eloquence held by their listeners. Defining eloquence as "powerful, moving speech," Warren engages a host of writers/orators to develop his argument, beginning with Ralph Waldo Emerson's philosophy of language in the 1830s and expanding his discussion to include the theories and practices of Henry David Thoreau, Margaret Fuller, Elizabeth Peabody, Frederick Douglass, William Gilmore Simms, and Walt Whitman. From this list he outlines practices that crossed the boundaries of gender, race, and class, ultimately showing that diverse sectors of society valued the word as a means toward reform. Powerful words move people to action, and Warren clearly delineates the authority accorded oratory in antebellum America. This book will appeal to a wide audience, including those interested in antebellum American culture, American literature and cultural history, literary criticism, and rhetoric.
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Fair. Item in acceptable condition including possible liquid damage. As well answers may be filled in. May be missing DVDs, CDs, Access code, etc. 100%Money-Back Guarantee! Ship within 24 hours! !
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Very good in very good dust jacket. Ex-library. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. 216 p. Audience: General/trade. LCCN 98041327 Type of material Book Personal name Warren, James Perrin. Main title Culture of eloquence: oratory and reform in antebellum America / James Perrin Warren. Published/Created University Park, Pa. : Pennsylvania State University Press, c1999. Description x, 202 p.; 24 cm. ISBN 027101900X (cloth: alk. paper) LC classification PS407. W37 1999 LC Subjects Peabody, Elizabeth Palmer, 1804-1894--Oratory. Simms, William Gilmore, 1806-1870--Oratory. Emerson, Ralph Waldo, 1803-1882--Oratory. Fuller, Margaret, 1810-1850--Oratory. Speeches, addresses, etc., American--History and criticism. American prose literature--19th century--History and criticism. Oratory--United States--History--19th century. Notes Includes bibliographical references and index. Dewey class no. 815/.309 Geographic area code n-us---
