Episode Information

This collection of classic speeches contains inspiring hymns to democratic freedom and the noblest aspects of human endeavour, and some of the darkest and most despicable speeches delivered in modern times. Winston Churchill found the words not only to confirm the self-belief of the British people before WWII, but also wrapped them in glorious oratory that convinced the British that, against all the odds, they could win the war. Words and delivery can combine to galvanise an audience, creating ‘I remember where I was when…’ moments. JFK at the Brandenburg Gate or Martin Luther King at the Lincoln Memorial provide unforgettable examples which still stir today, some 50 years after they were made. In recent years it seemed that the era of searing oratory is over. But with the inauguration of Barack Obama in 2009, a new day dawned for those who appreciate the art of the spoken word.