Shakespeare's magnificent capacity for rhetorical language is seen to wonderful effect in this passage from Henry V. And then we're going to have, straight after that, a modern sort of version of eve of war speaking. Colonel Tim Collins speaking to his troops before they go into battle. But first let's have Henry V, Shakespeare. He which hath no stomach to this fight let him depart. His passport shall be made and crowns for convoy put into his purse. We would not die in that man's company that fears his fellowship to die with us. This day is called the Feast of Christian. See that outlives this day and comes safe home will stand a tiptoe when this day
To celebrate some of the most influential and impactful speeches ever made, we invited Barack Obama’s director of speechwriting, Cody Keenan and Tony Blair’s former speechwriter, Philip Collins, to discuss the power of the spoken word. Our host was journalist and presenter Emily Maitlis, with actors including Jeremy Irons and Carey Mulligan joining us to reenact speeches that have defined pivotal moments in history.
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