Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

Gr 3–7—"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent …." Thus begins the two-minute speech that Lincoln delivered in 1863. His words stirred the hearts of those gathered at the cemetery in Gettysburg on that November day. Daugherty's pictorial interpretation of the speech will stir the hearts of modern readers as it did when the book was first published in 1947. The majestic artwork is filled with movement and bold swirls of color, bringing to mind the paintings on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Beginning with the Pilgrims in Plymouth and America's founding fathers of 1776, the artist takes readers through time, featuring historical figures, national symbols, and religious allusions as well as everyday people in portraits of key moments in American history. Lincoln appears in several of the illustrations. The speech is printed in an oversize, decorative font reflecting the importance of its timeless message of peace and unity. At the back of the book, the artist provides a brief interpretation of each painting. This updated edition includes a new afterword by Professor Gabor Boritt, Gettysburg College, setting the scene with background information about the day Lincoln delivered his address. History and art teachers will want this outstanding picture book in their collections.—Linda L. Walkins, Saint Joseph Preparatory High School, Boston, MA