The Address was delivered at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on the afternoon of Thursday, November 19, 1863, during the American Civil War, four and a half months after the Union armies defeated those of the Confederacy at the decisive Battle of Gettysburg. In just over two minutes, Lincoln invoked the principles of human equality espoused by the Declaration of Independence and redefined the Civil War as a struggle not merely for the Union, but as "a new birth of freedom" that would bring true equality to all of its citizens, and that would also create a unified nation in which states' rights were no longer dominant. Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves - and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked and comforted. They have enriched lives - and destroyed them. Now Penguin brings you the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals and visionaries whose ideas shook civilization and helped make us who we are.

Great Speeches of Abraham Lincoln is a compilation of several speeches by Abraham Lincoln. Some of these speeches are famous; the Gettysburg Address and House Divided speech are famous Lincoln speeches of particular note. Some of them were delivered during the American Civil War; the First Inaugural Address and Last Public Address, among others. And some of them speak of freedom and Lincoln's views on American's original sin, slavery; the Peoria Speech and Cooper Union Address draw heavy influence from these areas. In one of his most famous speeches, he said: "A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe the government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free." He predicted that the country eventually would become "all one thing, or all the other." Again and again he insisted that the civil liberties of every U.S. citizen, white as well as Black, were at stake. The territories must be kept free, he further said, because "new free states" were "places for poor people to go and better their condition."

A young man came out of the Victoria station, looking undecidedly at the taxi-cabs, dark-red and black, pressing against the kerb under the glass-roof. Several men in greatcoats and brass buttons jerked themselves erect to catch his attention, at the same time keeping an eye on the other people as they filtered through the open doorways of the station. Berry, however, was occupied by one of the men, a big, burly fellow whose blue eyes glared back and whose red-brown moustache bristled in defiance. 'Do you want a cab, sir?' the man asked, in a half-mocking, challenging voice. Berry hesitated still. 'Are you Daniel Sutton?' he asked. 'Yes, ' replied the other defiantly, with uneasy conscience. 'Then you are my uncle, ' said Berry. They were alike in colouring, and somewhat in features, but the taxi driver was a powerful, well-fleshed man who glared at the world aggressively, being really on the defensive against his own heart. His nephew, of the same height, was thin, well-dressed, quiet and indifferent in his manner. And yet they were obviously kin.

"Noted Speeches of Abraham Lincoln, Including the Lincoln-Douglas Debate" compiles some of the most iconic speeches by the legendary Abraham Lincoln. Although the book's authorship is credited to Lincoln himself, it is a valuable collection that showcases the eloquence and wisdom of this revered figure in American history. Lincoln's speeches, including the famous Lincoln-Douglas Debate, are essential historical documents that shed light on critical moments in the nation's history. This book is a must-read for history enthusiasts and those interested in the eloquence and leadership of one of America's greatest presidents.

Donated by Carl W. Schaefer.