On May 15th, 2003 David McCullough presented The Course of Human Events as The 2003 Jefferson Lecture in the Humanities in Washington, DC. The Jefferson Lecture is a tribute to McCullough's lifetime investigation of history.
In this short speech, this master historian tracks his fascination with all things historical to his early days in Pittsburgh where he "learned to love history by way of books" in bookshops and at the local library.
McCullough eloquently leads us through the founding fathers' attraction to history, letting us in on his composition of 1776 as well as the Pulitzer Prize winning John Adams. His obvious affection for history is inspiring, because it encompasses the whole reach of the human drama. In McCullough's able hands, history truly "is a larger way of looking at life."
In a 2003 speech given in Washington, D.C., author David McCullough reminds listeners that history is made up of human beings, not gods. He cites the flaws of the Founding Fathers as he ticks off their accomplishments. One of his favorite points to stress is their love of books and literature; Nathan Hale's famous speech before being hanged, for example, comes from CATO, a play popular at the time. McCullough reads as a master lecturer as he discusses the Founders, then turns personal as he discusses his own love of books, which started with a copy of AMOS AND ME, a children's book about Benjamin Franklin. Book-lovers, especially those with an interest in history, will enjoy hearing how books teach us about the past--and present. J.A.S. (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine
