A movement in American politics hostile to the possession and the possibility of words—it had repeatedly disparaged Barack Obama as “just a person of words” —was not only defeated but embarrassed by a victory speech eloquent in echo, allusion, and counterpoint. No doubt many of us would have watched in tears if President-elect Obama had only thanked his campaign staff and shuffled off to bed; but his midnight address was written in a language with roots, and stirred in his audience a correspondingly deep emotion.Do read the entire piece. You'll read of allusions in Obama's speech that you, like me, may have missed.
November 14, 2008
Victory Speech
Nov 4th 2008. Historic night for Obama and the US but also... "A very good night for the English language" writes James Wood, whose recent book - How Fiction Works - is on my to-read list.
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