An intellectual biography of Russell Kirk (1918–1994), this book offers the first full examination of his life and thought as it developed over the course of the twentieth century. As almost all would agree, Kirk served as the father of postwar conservatism, but he did so in a way that promoted the superiority of culture above politics. His conservatism attempted to save the best of the Western and humane traditions. Looking at every public writing, his complete letters, and his private journals and diaries, Russell Kirk: American Conservative considers the nuances and eccentricities of the Am ... More

An intellectual biography of Russell Kirk (1918–1994), this book offers the first full examination of his life and thought as it developed over the course of the twentieth century. As almost all would agree, Kirk served as the father of postwar conservatism, but he did so in a way that promoted the superiority of culture above politics. His conservatism attempted to save the best of the Western and humane traditions. Looking at every public writing, his complete letters, and his private journals and diaries, Russell Kirk: American Conservative considers the nuances and eccentricities of the American conservative movement during its formation and maturation. It considers the movement’s alliances, successes, and failures over half of a century. It also examines Kirk’s personal life as well as his successful career as a horror and fiction writer. In the end, though, it finds his most enduring quality to be his immense and almost saintlike charity.