I HAVE A DREAM – INSPIRING WORDS AND THOUGHTS FROM HISTORY’S GREATEST LEADERS

384pp Hardback Illustrated Quercus January 2012

Good Book Guide April 2012

The art of oratory has been critically influential throughout the course of history, as this excellent book makes very clear. From the Bible to Barack Obama, a few well chosen, deftly delivered words have moved men in many ways, whether generals addressing their troops with stirring words to urge on an invasion, religious leaders pleading the cause of peace, or even Hitler inflaming his followers. There is a great deal of inspirational writing here from the likes of Cromwell, Churchill and Kennedy, as well as the Gandhi and Francis of Assisi, and every entry is accompanied by and introduction which puts each speech into its historical and political context.

(Author’s Note – it was not my title)

Quercus website: ‘I Have a Dream’ is an anthology of history’s most inspiring words and thoughts from history’s greatest leaders from all ages and nations. Each of the 370 quotations is accompanied by an extended annotation that tells the story of the speaker or explains the circumstances that gave rise to the quotation. Includes: ‘I have the heart of a king, and a king of England, too’ – Queen Elizabeth I (1588); ‘This nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom’ – Abraham Lincoln (1863); ‘Non-violence is the first article of my faith’ – Mohandas Gandhi (1922); ‘Blood, tears, toil and sweat’ – Winston Churchill (1940); ‘Ask not what your country can do for you’ – John F. Kennedy (1961) and ‘I have a dream’ – Martin Luther King (1963).

Professor Bernard Knight CBE: A fascinating ‘heap’ of information - All Terry Breverton's books are a delight to read or dip into. He has a great capacity for unearthing information, often from obscure sources. Perhaps its organisation is not always perfect, some bits contradicting others, as in the Welsh Saints' book and he reminds me of that ancient writer, the Welsh monk Nennius, who admitted in his Historia Brittonum, that he had 'made a great heap of all that he could find'. These quotation books are a bit different, in that the actual words were spoken by the subject and are immutable - but Breverton usually adds his own comments, often in a pungent and sometimes caustic manner.’

Mrs. C. Simmons – Amazon review - 5.0 out of 5 stars ‘Great gift’ 18 January 2012 ‘I was given this book as a gift as I am a great fan of this author. I received it just in time as I was looking for an inspirational quote to write in a card. It was perfect, good to keep for reference and well written. Some surprising but educational and entertaining entries.’