Author(s): The Guardian

World History

What has happened to the 'art' of speech-writing and speech making? Where are the men and women whose words set the heart racing with passion, turn battles, inspire populations to extraordinary endeavour: 'Ask not what your country can do for you', 'We shall fight on the beaches', 'I have a dream', and, 'The only thing we have to fear is fear itself'. Quote these words today and they still have the power to stop us in our tracks. This is a book that should be required reading, a book that should be on every bookshelf in the country. Here are fourteen key speeches of the 20th century introduced by prominent figures ranging from F.W. de Klerk and Mikhail Gorbachev to Antony Beevor and Gordon Brown. 'Winston Churchill - We shall fight on the beaches' is introduced by Simon Schama. 'J.F. Kennedy - Ask not what your country can do for you' is introduced by Kennedy's speech writer Ted Sorensen. 'Nelson Mandela - An ideal for which I am prepared to die' is introduced by F.W. de Klerk. 'Harold Macmillan - No going back' is introduced by Douglas Hurd. 'Franklin D. Roosevelt - The only thing we have to fear is fear itself' is introduced by Gordon Brown.