Overview

When people look to the founding of the modern conservative movement, they must ultimately look to Russell Kirk (1918–1994). Author of the groundbreaking treatise The Conservative Mind, Kirk defined conservative political thought for the post–World War II era. An imaginative and optimistic thinker, Kirk wrote essays in justice, society, education, economics, history, and literature that are timeless reminders of what Kirk called “the permanent things”: honor, courage, character, virtue, constancy, humility, wisdom, order, and prudence. His creative spirit is immortalized not only in his political work, however—Kirk also left behind a rich collection of spine-tingling horror stories and sophisticated novels. James E. Person Jr. explores every aspect of Kirk’s quiet genius. His findings provide much needed insight into the mind of a philosopher who defined a movement that provokes heated debate to this day. Person’s analysis traces conservatism to its roots and, in the process, uncovers important lessons for the future.

Full Product Details

9781442251854

Table of Contents

Reviews

Deft, informative, and amazingly comprehensive; friendly to its subject but not slavishly so. The University Bookman [Person's] book represents a signal contribution to Kirk scholarship. Chronicles: A Magazine of American Culture Russell Kirk's scholarship gave respectability to the conservative movement after World War II. He stands at the very summit of political philosophers, and Person's biography is indeed worthy of its subject. -- Congressman Henry J. Hyde, M. C. This book...will show an entire new generation what a fine man and excellent thinker lived in our time. -- Ray Bradbury Person's book helps us not only in measuring the value of Russell Kirk's contribution to conservative thought, but also in discerning his worthy role in American life and letters. It is a book that reminds us, too, of how much Kirk has helped us to fathom the true nature of 'armed doctrines' in our time. -- George A. Panichas, author of The Critical Legacy of Irving Babbitt: An Appreciation and editor of Modern Age A brilliant synthesis of the many strands making up Russell Kirk's amazing life and legacy. Person brings to vivid life the man and the career that made modern conservatism possible, and could re-enliven it today. -- Bruce Frohnen, historian and author of Virtue and the Promise of Conservatism Russell Kirk and his writings should be part of the education of every American-conservative or liberal-who thinks seriously and deeply about the future of our republic. An excellent introduction, sustained by sound scholarship, and enlivened by vivid writing. -- Alf J. Mapp Jr., author of Three Golden Ages: Discovering the Creative Secrets of Renaissance Florence, Elizabethan England, and America's Founding

Deft, informative, and amazingly comprehensive; friendly to its subject but not slavishly so. The University Bookman [Person's] book represents a signal contribution to Kirk scholarship. Chronicles Russell Kirk's scholarship gave respectability to the conservative movement after World War II. He stands at the very summit of political philosophers, and Person's biography is indeed worthy of its subject. -- Congressman Henry J. Hyde, M. C. This book...will show an entire new generation what a fine man and excellent thinker lived in our time. -- Ray Bradbury Person's book helps us not only in measuring the value of Russell Kirk's contribution to conservative thought, but also in discerning his worthy role in American life and letters. It is a book that reminds us, too, of how much Kirk has helped us to fathom the true nature of 'armed doctrines' in our time. -- George A. Panichas, author of The Critical Legacy of Irving Babbitt: An Appreciation and editor of Modern Age A brilliant synthesis of the many strands making up Russell Kirk's amazing life and legacy. Person brings to vivid life the man and the career that made modern conservatism possible, and could re-enliven it today. -- Bruce Frohnen, historian and author of Virtue and the Promise of Conservatism Russell Kirk and his writings should be part of the education of every American-conservative or liberal-who thinks seriously and deeply about the future of our republic. An excellent introduction, sustained by sound scholarship, and enlivened by vivid writing. -- Alf J. Mapp Jr., author of Three Golden Ages: Discovering the Creative Secrets of Renaissance Florence, Elizabethan England, and America's Founding

Author Information

James E. Person Jr. worked in reference publishing for over 30 years, writing for and editing such distinguished reference works as Major Twentieth-Century Writers, Literature Criticism from 1400 to 1800, and Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism. His essays, article, and reviews have appeared in Modern Age, National Review, The University Bookman, and The Sewanee Review, among many other venues. He is the editor of The Unbought Grace of Life: Essays in Honor of Russell Kirk and the author of Earl Hamner: From Walton's Mountain to Tomorrow.

Tab Content 6

Countries Available