The Wills’ book isn’t that bad.

That kind of textual analysis is an acquired taste, though, I suppose. Students of the New Testament get used to the idea that a single verse might have dozens of antecedents in the Hebrew Bible and early Christian texts that need to be considered in the course of a careful exegesis. Tiresome at times. Fruitful more often.

But Fred . . . the Gettysburg Address overblown? It’s a prism through which students can consider the Battle of Gettysburg, the conduct of the Civil War, the abolitionist movement and emancipation, and one of America’s greatest presidents. Overblown?

Should college course be conducted in a single language — say, English? I think so, and don’t think that’s an affront to any reasonable libertarian’s love of liberty. I think a common civic language is pretty valuable, also.