The Handbook of Rhetoric and Public Address is a state-of-the-art companion to the field that showcases both the historical traditions and the future possibilities for public address scholarship in the twenty-first century.

Focuses on public address as both a subject matter and a critical perspective

Mindful of the connections between the study of public address and the history of ideas

Provides an historical overview of public address research and pedagogy, as well as a reassessment of contemporary public address scholarship by those most engaged in its practice

Includes in-depth discussions of basic issues and controversies public address scholarship

Explores the relationship between the study of public address and contemporary issues of civic engagement and democratic citizenship

Reflects the diversity of views among public address scholars, advancing on-going discussions and debates over the goals and character of rhetorical scholarship