The Works of Edmund Burke, Vol. 2, LibriVox audio reading

What it is

This is an audio recording of volume two of The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, a 1887 edition published in London. The recording is a LibriVox volunteer reading of the text, dedicated to the public domain. It is not the voice of Burke. The contents include his Speech on American Taxation of April 19, 1774, speeches at Bristol in October and November 1774, his Speech on Moving Resolutions for Conciliation with America of March 22, 1775, and his Letter to the Sheriffs of Bristol of April 3, 1777.

Why it matters

These writings show Burke's arguments about America and about the British empire during the years before the American Revolution. Listening to them gives students a way to hear the rhythm of his long, formal sentences. Because the recording is a modern reading, students should treat the words as Burke's and the voice as a volunteer's.

Look closer

• How does hearing the text read aloud change how you understand Burke's arguments?
• Which of these speeches or letters seem to address different audiences, and why?
• What does this edition leave out, and how might a different edition change what readers see?