Editor’s Note

The following forum is a response to J. Michael Sproule’s article “Inventing Public Speaking: Rhetoric and the Speech Book, 1730–1930,” published in Rhetoric & Public Affairs 15:4 (2012): 563–608. As the page range indicates, this was one of the longest—perhaps the longest—article ever published in Rhetoric & Public Affairs. It was also one of the most important, tracing the genealogy of what was to become the modern public speaking textbook. Subsequent to my invitation to Professors Keith, Lundberg, and Farrell to respond to Sproule’s article, and subsequent to his agreement to provide a rejoinder, we learned that the National Communication Association had honored Dr. Sproule’s article with the 2013 Golden Anniversary Monograph Award, the highest honor bestowed by the national organization to a refereed article. Professor Sproule was one of only two recipients. We are glad that the field at large has recognized the importance of Dr. Sproule’s work and we are pleased to be able to continue this important dialogue with this forum.