its worth extends beyond just fastening on the warts. Bryan deserves more
than that.

As Springen reminds us, Bryan did deliver speeches between the "Cross
of Gold" speech and the controversy between the rock of ages versus the
ages of rock. And this is perhaps the real strength of Springen's criticism:
he treats not only the beginning and the end, but more importantly he
explicates what happened in that great expanse of a thirty-year rhetorical
career. For Springen parses Bryan's other important, but not so highly
touted, speeches and addresses that probably had more lasting effects than
his two highly publicized communications. Basing his exegesis of Bryan's
rhetoric, which often seemed more like a political sermon than a speech, on
original research that he conducted in the Bryan papers, Springen details the
"Great Commoner's" uncommon oratory.

Halford R. Ryan

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