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'I am pleased that Gordon Brown's speeches have been collected for publication. Reading them gives an insight into the man behind the politician, and the values behind the policies. These are values we share: values of fairness and liberty and, above all, justice. Gordon Brown brings determination to the fight against intentional poverty, and it is rooted in a sense of justice that extends beyond Britain's shores. His speeches show a vision of a better world for all, a vision to which he is deeply committed' Nelson Mandela
New Statesman
'Each speech in this book is densely argued yet delicately
orchestrated'
orchestrated'
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
There are two problems with this book of Gordon Brown's speeches.
The first is that even the best speeches rarely translate properly into print. A speech is partly the delivery given to it by the speechmaker, partly the atmosphere of the occasion on which it is delivered, partly the almost chemical reaction created by conjunction of the speech itself and the historical moment at which it is delivered - context. All of this is lost in print. Worse - print spoils it. There is no pacing in print. No inflexion. No audience. No spontaneity. Even the finest oratory is, it has been said, when printed, "like mouldy wedding cake".
The second is that Gordon Brown was always an astonishingly bad public speaker - astonishingly, that is, for someone who made such personal progress as a politician, and who had so many opportunities to practise the art of speechmaking.
In fact, these speeches, in print, are slightly better than when they were delivered. Since Gordon Brown's delivery was always so poor - so repetitive - so utterly lacking in any attempt, let alone ability, to charm his audience - so heavy, and so obvious - it is actually better to eliminate this element by having the speeches on the printed page. Perhaps this is why he was such a bad speaker - he actually saw them as essays, and not as speeches. Perhaps that is why, unlike much better political speakers than him, he is publishing his own speeches long before his retirement.
But these speeches are not very good. They contain no penetrating insights, no original thought, no striking turn of phrase, no self revelation, no sense of humour, no wisdom, and no foresight. They are policial phrasemaking and cliche of the most tedious and unrewarding kind.
Why is Gordon Brown such a bad speaker? Why did anyone think he had the qualities needed to lead a party, let alone a country, in a parliamentary democracy and in a media age? Why is he publishing a book of speeches which does him so little credit? Why would anyone buy it? To these questions I have no answer; and nor does the book.
The first is that even the best speeches rarely translate properly into print. A speech is partly the delivery given to it by the speechmaker, partly the atmosphere of the occasion on which it is delivered, partly the almost chemical reaction created by conjunction of the speech itself and the historical moment at which it is delivered - context. All of this is lost in print. Worse - print spoils it. There is no pacing in print. No inflexion. No audience. No spontaneity. Even the finest oratory is, it has been said, when printed, "like mouldy wedding cake".
The second is that Gordon Brown was always an astonishingly bad public speaker - astonishingly, that is, for someone who made such personal progress as a politician, and who had so many opportunities to practise the art of speechmaking.
In fact, these speeches, in print, are slightly better than when they were delivered. Since Gordon Brown's delivery was always so poor - so repetitive - so utterly lacking in any attempt, let alone ability, to charm his audience - so heavy, and so obvious - it is actually better to eliminate this element by having the speeches on the printed page. Perhaps this is why he was such a bad speaker - he actually saw them as essays, and not as speeches. Perhaps that is why, unlike much better political speakers than him, he is publishing his own speeches long before his retirement.
But these speeches are not very good. They contain no penetrating insights, no original thought, no striking turn of phrase, no self revelation, no sense of humour, no wisdom, and no foresight. They are policial phrasemaking and cliche of the most tedious and unrewarding kind.
Why is Gordon Brown such a bad speaker? Why did anyone think he had the qualities needed to lead a party, let alone a country, in a parliamentary democracy and in a media age? Why is he publishing a book of speeches which does him so little credit? Why would anyone buy it? To these questions I have no answer; and nor does the book.
2 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Has made a sublime doorstop. Can't fault it.
...On a more serious note, it's exactly what anybody interested in buying the thing would expect. Fascinating, from a historical point of view- whilst it would be stretching the English Language to its limits to call Brown a fine orator, recent events have more than carved out his place in history.
...On a more serious note, it's exactly what anybody interested in buying the thing would expect. Fascinating, from a historical point of view- whilst it would be stretching the English Language to its limits to call Brown a fine orator, recent events have more than carved out his place in history.
3 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is fine for any socially/politically minded academic, journalist or civil servant. Perhaps a little stale for the general reader who may prefer a biography as opposed to an evening of policy analysis. Otherwise great for research, or a little self indulgence.
Although Brown has never proved to be a charismatic speaker, he is a don of great success. His speeches are statesmanlike as opposed to showmanship, as is evident in Galloway and Sheridan et al. Further his 'British jobs for British workers' speech- pressed for by the Downing Street lads - cringingly appears in this book. Further he has just one reference to Scottish nationalism, refusing to give it the air time.
Such mistakes will haunt him at a later date, but otherwise he's done well leaning on worthy Presbyterian ethics and dour yet admirable Scotsmanship within his evangelically long, articulate and 'redder' early speeches.
Although Brown has never proved to be a charismatic speaker, he is a don of great success. His speeches are statesmanlike as opposed to showmanship, as is evident in Galloway and Sheridan et al. Further his 'British jobs for British workers' speech- pressed for by the Downing Street lads - cringingly appears in this book. Further he has just one reference to Scottish nationalism, refusing to give it the air time.
Such mistakes will haunt him at a later date, but otherwise he's done well leaning on worthy Presbyterian ethics and dour yet admirable Scotsmanship within his evangelically long, articulate and 'redder' early speeches.
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