Gettysburg Address (version 2)

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) delivered the Gettysburg Address on 19 November 1863 at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, during the American Civil War, a few months after the great battle. It is the most famous speech of the president and one of the most quoted speeches in United States history.

The speech is short enough to be learned by heart, and generations of pupils have done exactly that. Its language is plain, but its construction is careful: it moves from the past, to the present, to the future, and each part ties back to the idea of a nation dedicated to a proposition. Lincoln did not claim that the speakers could consecrate the ground; he suggested that the brave men who had struggled there had already done so, and that the task of the living was to finish their work.

This is the second LibriVox version of the speech. It has one chapter and lasts only a few minutes. It is read by one LibriVox volunteer, John Greenman.

Why listen today? Having more than one reading allows you to compare emphasis and pace, which can change the feeling of the words. The text remains a central statement of American democratic ideals, and its brevity makes it a rewarding experience for listeners of every age. Take a moment to hear it all the way through. Because the speech has been quoted so often, hearing it whole can feel surprisingly fresh. The rhythm of its sentences, the repeated word dedicate and the turn from grief toward resolve are all clearer when they are spoken than when they are skimmed on a page, and the short length means there is no reason not to listen twice.