Talking Us Round

In this work the question of political persuasion is treated from a variety of points of view drawn from modern linguistics: appraisal and engagement theory, rhetorical studies, information structure and representational patterns. The aim is to show how politicians are able to work their persuasive discursive magic, and the work features studies of five celebrated rhetors: Edmund Burke, Benjamin Disraeli, Sir Winston Churchill, Malcolm X and Gerry Adams. The different historical contexts make it possible to study how far features of persuasive political rhetoric are common across the centuries.