Ferdie Addis

Henry is generally well-behaved, but he is occasionally arrogant and vain. Henry is at heart a hard worker, but his frequent bouts of illness hinder his work.

Phrases We Borrowed from the Classics and the Stories Behind Them

Opening Pandora's Box

Can words really change the world? From the absurd to the inspirational, from the divine to the diabolical, these are the speeches that have changed history, and left their mark on the world today. To read of Elizabeth I addressing her troops before the Spanish Armada, or Martin Luther King urging the American population for racial equality is to understand the tremendous power of language to inspire, to comfort, to move or to enthuse an audience. It is inspiring to hear the words of people whose gift was to know what to say, when to say it, and how to phrase it, often in language so powerful, so eloquent and so beautiful that we remember their words centuries after they were first spoken. I Have a Dream includes some of the greatest, most celebrated speeches, such as Pericles' funeral oration in Athens in the fifth century BC, as well as lesser-known speeches, such as Lieutenant- Colonel Tim Collins' eve-of-battle address to his soldiers in Iraq in 2003 - all of which deserve to be celebrated and credited by modern audiences. Here is an enjoyable collection of the greatest speeches that have been delivered throughout history, prefaced by brief historical and biographical introductions. This small but perfectly formed book reveals the fascinating stories behind some of the most powerful words ever spoken. Instant inspiration for even the nerviest public speaker.--SHORTLIST This book reminds us about past greatness (...) It is impossible not to be moved, inspired, incensed and outraged by some of the messages.--TRIBUNE MAGAZINE

The Speeches That Changed History

I Have a Dream

To read of Elizabeth I addressing her troops before the Spanish Armada, or Martin Luther-King urging the American population for racial equality is to understand the tremendous power of language to inspire, to comfort, to move, or to enthuse an audience. It is inspiring to hear the words of people whose gift was to know what to say, when to say it, and how to phrase it, often in language so powerful, so eloquent and so beautiful that we remember their words centuries after they were first spoken. Here is an enjoyable collection of the greatest speeches that have been delivered throughout history, prefaced by brief historical and biographical introductions. The book includes some of the greatest, most celebrated speeches, such as Pericles' funeral oration in Athens in the fifth century BC, as well as lesser known speeches, such as Lieutenant-Colonel Tim Collins' eve-of-battle address to his soldiers in Iraq in 2003 - all of which deserve to be celebrated and credited by modern audiences.

I Have A Dream. . .

Sticks and stones may break bones, but words can inspire an angry mob to pick up those clubs in the first place. This collection of fifty speeches reveals how men and women throughout the ages changed the course of history. Featuring classical orators, wartime heroes, and contemporary icons, from Elizabeth I to Abraham Lincoln, from Margaret Thatcher to Nelson Mandela, right up through Barack Obama, I Dare Say: Great Speeches that Changed the World tells the great stories of human history, including: · The Ancient World: Public speaking became an art in ancient Greece and Rome, and the records of speeches written by philosophers and teachers such as Homer and Cicero form the bedrock for modern philosophical thought and epic literary works. · European History: The bloody Crusades, fractious divisions among the European powers, and a political philosophy of terror redraw the maps of Europe. · Early American History: The dynamic speeches that rallied thousands to join arms against their motherland—and their brothers—from the American Revolution to the Civil War. · Slavery, Suffrage, and Civil Rights: Impassioned and eloquent speeches from luminaries such as Sojourner Truth, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Hillary Rodham Clinton document the struggle for equal rights that shapes the modern world. · World Wars I and II: The rallying cries to protect, defend, and conquer that defined the twenty-first century—from both the winners and losers of the great World Wars. · Colonialism and Apartheid: The calls for peace and equality from leaders such as Mandela and Jawaharlal Nehru as the global maps were redrawn once again. · Global Terrorism: The speeches from Osama bin Laden, George W. Bush, and others that created a new “war on terror” and reshaped American government. · Contemporary American Politics: A look at the speeches that touched the nation, that put a man to the moon, and that helped Barack Obama, the first African-American U.S. president, rise to office.

I Dare Say: Inside Stories of the World's Most Powerful Speeches

Perché si dice avere sulla testa la spada di Damocle, cadere tra le braccia di Morfeo o fare uno sforzo titanico? Cosa sono i giorni di Alcione, il nodo gordiano e il tocco di Mida? Ci sono moltissime espressioni d'uso comune che affondano le loro radici lontano nel tempo, nella tradizione greco-latina e nelle storie dei miti, più avvincenti e intricate di una soap opera. Per non farci fare la figura dei barbari (si legga la voce relativa), l'autore ritesse il filo di questi racconti, di cui abbiamo forse perso la memoria, ma che appartengono alla storia dell'umanità e non smettono mai di stupire con la profondità e la modernità che solo i classici hanno.

Ferdie Addis

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