First book-length analysis of Mark Twain as a great American orator, one that demonstrates his oral style of writing and his eloquence as spokesman for nineteenth-century Americans.
This work opens with an assessment of Mark Twain as a great American orator and then appraises his rhetoric, lectures and occasional speeches, and summarises his impact on his listeners. It shows how he used humour and varying styles to achieve his effects.
First book-length analysis of Mark Twain as a great American orator, one that demonstrates his oral style of writing and his eloquence as spokesman for nineteenth-century Americans.
This work opens with an assessment of Mark Twain as a great American orator and then appraises his rhetoric, lectures and occasional speeches, and summarises his impact on his listeners. It shows how he used humour and varying styles to achieve his effects.
How did Mark Twain develop his remarkable oral style of writing which was so carefully crafted? And what can we learn about 19th century America from the public speeches of this humourist and teacher who charmed his country and exported his notions of Americanism around the world? This book-length critical analysis deals exclusively with Twain's oratory. A reference volume in the Great American Orators Series, it is designed for students, teachers and professionals in the fields of speech communication and American studies. The volume, bringing Mark Twain again to the centre stage, opens with an assessment of Twain as a great American orator and then appraises his rhetoric, lectures, occasional speeches, and summarises his impact on his listeners. Professor Vallin shows how he used humour, varying styles of satire to attack Victorian hegemony and to exalt the common man, and how he emerged as the Representative American. He used vernacular expressions to bridge different sections of the country and spoke hundreds of times to thousands of listeners on a wide variety of topics, giving both simple talks and well-planned addresses.Sixteen selected speeches exemplify his eloquent and varied styles as a communicator. The volume also provides a chronology, a bibliographical essay and a general index.
MARLENE BOYD VALLIN is Associate Professor of Speech Communication and American Studies at Pennsylvania State University, Berks Campus. She has published articles on public speaking, interpersonal and group communication, and performance studies in a variety of professional journals.
How did Mark Twain develop his remarkable oral style of writing which was so carefully crafted? And what can we learn about nineteenth-century America from the public speeches of this humorist and teacher who charmed his country and exported his notions of Americanism around the world? This is the very first book-length critical analysis to deal exclusively with Twain's oratory. Another reference volume in the Great American Orators Series , it is designed for students, teachers, and professionals in the fields of speech communication and American studies. The volume, bringing Mark Twain again to the center stage, opens with an assessment of Twain as a great American orator and then appraises his rhetoric, lectures, occasional speeches, and summarizes his impact on his listeners. Professor Vallin shows how he used humor, varying styles of satire to attack Victorian hegemony and to exalt the common man, and how he emerged as the Representative American. He used vernacular expressions to bridge different sections of the country and spoke hundreds of times to thousands of listeners on a wide variety of topics, giving both simple talks and well-planned addresses. Sixteen selected speeches exemplify his eloquent and varied styles as a communicator. The volume also provides a chronology, a bibliographical essay that is a definitive one on Mark Twain as a public speaker, and a general index.
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