Author(s): John Pafford (Author), John Meadowcroft (Author)
Publisher: Continuum Publishing Corporation
Publication Date: 15 July 2010
Language: English
Print length: 176 pages
ISBN-10: 1441195696
ISBN-13: 9781441195692
Book Description
Volume 12 in the “Major Conservative and Libertarian Thinkers” series focuses on Russell Kirk’s conservative philosophy. Russell Kirk is widely regarded as the individual most responsible for the revival of conservative thought in the latter half of the twentieth century. Kirk’s conservative philosophy was well-established with his magnum opus, “The Conservative Mind”, published in 1953, and remained constant until his death in 1994. His Christianity, though, grew from something seen as the foundation of Western Civilization to being also a personal faith. He became a Roman Catholic, drawn by its universality, its traditionalism, and his love for the woman he married. Although he believed in certain Catholic distinctives, such as purgatory, he generally seemed to be more of a generic Christian than a dogmatic follower of Rome. “Major Conservative and Libertarian Thinkers” provides comprehensive accounts of the works of seminal conservative thinkers from a variety of periods, disciplines, and traditions – the first series of its kind. Even the selection of thinkers adds another aspect to conservative thinking, including not only theorists but also writers and practitioners. The series comprises twenty volumes, each including an intellectual biography, historical context, critical exposition of the thinker’s work, reception and influence, contemporary relevance, bibliography including references to electronic resources, and an index.
Editorial Reviews
Review
“Pafford captures the essence of Russell Kirk in this excellent book. Pafford clearly explains Kirk’s conservative ideas, and how they have shaped American thought since 1953.  This biography is a wonderful contribution to the discussion of Kirk and his ideas.” Burton Folsom, Jr., Professor of History, Hillsdale College, author, New Deal or Raw Deal? James E. Person Jr., author of Russell Kirk: A Critical Biography of a Conservative Mind
John M. Pafford has crafted a most worthwhile introduction to the life and accomplishment of Russell Kirk. During our current time of troubles, Kirk’s wisdom-contained in three dozen books that span several disciplines, in fiction and in nonfiction-is needed greatly; and Dr. Pafford has done a fine job of presenting the reader with the essence of Kirk’s significance for today.
“Russell Kirk was one of those rare individuals whose humility belied his well-deserved fame. At the first moment I met him more than 30 years ago, and on the many subsequent occasions when I was privileged to visit and talk with him until his death in 1994, I felt I was in the presence of greatness. Now, reading John Pafford’s splendid biography of him, I have had the joy of experiencing that sense once again. What a treasure for the world Kirk was, and a fitting tribute to him Dr. Pafford’s book will quickly be seen to be!”Lawrence W. Reed, President, Foundation for Economic Education, Irvington, NY
About the Author
John M. Pafford, a protege of Russell Kirk, is an ordained Biblical Anglican clergyman and has been a professor of history at Northwood University in Midland, Michigan since 1976. Dr Meadowcroft is Lecturer in Public Policy at King’s College London and the author of The Ethics of the Market (Palgrave, 2005) and co-author of Rescuing Social Capital from Social Democracy (Institute of Economic Affairs, 2007).
Wow! eBook
