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Atlantic High: A Celebration
Author and inveterate sailor Buckley recounts his second trans-Atlantic voyage and ruminates on everything from celestial navigation, God, and music to politics, ships, and friendships
266 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1982
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169 people want to read
About the author
William F. Buckley Jr.
183 books336 followersWilliam Frank Buckley, Jr. was an American author and conservative commentator. He founded the political magazine National Review in 1955, hosted 1,429 episodes of the television show Firing Line from 1966 until 1999, and was a nationally syndicated newspaper columnist. His writing style was famed for its erudition, wit, and use of uncommon words.
Buckley was "arguably the most important public intellectual in the United States in the past half century," according to George H. Nash, a historian of the modern American conservative movement. "For an entire generation he was the preeminent voice of American conservatism and its first great ecumenical figure." Buckley's primary intellectual achievement was to fuse traditional American political conservatism with economic libertarianism and anti-communism, laying the groundwork for the modern American conservatism of US Presidential candidate Barry Goldwater and US President Ronald Reagan.
Buckley came on the public scene with his critical book God and Man at Yale (1951); among over fifty further books on writing, speaking, history, politics and sailing, were a series of novels featuring CIA agent Blackford Oakes. Buckley referred to himself "on and off" as either libertarian or conservative. He resided in New York City and Stamford, Connecticut, and often signed his name as "WFB." He was a practicing Catholic, regularly attending the traditional Latin Mass in Connecticut.
Buckley was "arguably the most important public intellectual in the United States in the past half century," according to George H. Nash, a historian of the modern American conservative movement. "For an entire generation he was the preeminent voice of American conservatism and its first great ecumenical figure." Buckley's primary intellectual achievement was to fuse traditional American political conservatism with economic libertarianism and anti-communism, laying the groundwork for the modern American conservatism of US Presidential candidate Barry Goldwater and US President Ronald Reagan.
Buckley came on the public scene with his critical book God and Man at Yale (1951); among over fifty further books on writing, speaking, history, politics and sailing, were a series of novels featuring CIA agent Blackford Oakes. Buckley referred to himself "on and off" as either libertarian or conservative. He resided in New York City and Stamford, Connecticut, and often signed his name as "WFB." He was a practicing Catholic, regularly attending the traditional Latin Mass in Connecticut.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 9, 2023
William F. Buckley decides to sail across the Atlantic on a sail boat, with a crew including various friends and his son, Christopher. He celebrates the thirty day journey with this book.
There are few writers as good as Buckley at his best, and this book is highly recommended for anyone at all interested in sailing.
There are few writers as good as Buckley at his best, and this book is highly recommended for anyone at all interested in sailing.
January 21, 2022
The writing style is in line with Buckley’s documentary books like Cruising Speed and Overdrive. I’m not a sailor so I learned something about navigating by the sun and stars. There isn’t much political talk here. Buckley doesn’t even explain whether Jeff Hart or Rick Brookhiser are editing the magazine in his absence. I had no idea who Bill’s sailing friend Dick Clurman was, so I looked further into his life. He was a Time Magazine editor that died in the 1990s. I knew Van Galbraith from his book about being Ambassador to France in thew 1980s. Something as small as the demand for ice cubes is a struggle at sea. I wish he had given us a floor plan of the ship.
I would have enjoyed it better had I spent weeks at sea, but I will likely get around to reading the rest of his books on this subject.
I would have enjoyed it better had I spent weeks at sea, but I will likely get around to reading the rest of his books on this subject.
November 4, 2016
It's been awhile since I read these, but I loved all his trans-Atlantic/Pacific crossings biographical books. I learned more about him personally and admired him increasingly ever afterwards. RIP
February 29, 2008
Not as good as Airborne, but a great sailing memoir from one of the great wits and intellects in American politics.
October 16, 2008
Having experienced many of the types adventures described in the book, it is enjoyable to compare notes. Additionally Buckley's style and erudite vocabulary are entertaining.
On a personal note: my copy was originally my grandfather's and he annotated it with notes and comments of things that he found interesting.
On a personal note: my copy was originally my grandfather's and he annotated it with notes and comments of things that he found interesting.
July 28, 2013
Sometimes I was entertained and found it a witty read. There is some boring reading, which is not about crossing the Atlantic.
May 28, 2018
Another fine and playful journey with Buckley and friends... As close as I am likely going to get to ocean sailing, and a satisfying substitute. Like Airborne, a paean to friendship as well.
June 16, 2025
I ADORED this book, but I know it won't be as compelling to everyone else as it was to me. Buckley is renowned for his clever, sophisticated, unusually intellectual writing, which I had never experienced in a book-length text. I annotated like a school girl and copied whole paragraphs that just pleased me to read and reread on the most fundamental level.
The story drew me as much as his fame as an author (he's written at least 50 books!!), because I'm working on a project of my own, also about a sailing adventure. I wanted to see how he approached the structure and presentation of his own journey, and I learned a lot. If you're not all that interested in how to navigate by the stars or whatever, you can easily skip those bits. The photos are also amazing.
Buckley's descriptions of his shipmates, the places they visited and the events along the way will amuse and entertain you and hey, you might even learn a couple of new words!
The story drew me as much as his fame as an author (he's written at least 50 books!!), because I'm working on a project of my own, also about a sailing adventure. I wanted to see how he approached the structure and presentation of his own journey, and I learned a lot. If you're not all that interested in how to navigate by the stars or whatever, you can easily skip those bits. The photos are also amazing.
Buckley's descriptions of his shipmates, the places they visited and the events along the way will amuse and entertain you and hey, you might even learn a couple of new words!
May 23, 2025
Overall a very enjoyable read as someone who likes the ocean. Not super fun as someone who didn’t go to an Ivy League or have many high ranking political connections.
Probably would have given it a 4 but it’s hard for me to highly rate books of no consequence
Probably would have given it a 4 but it’s hard for me to highly rate books of no consequence
May 3, 2018
WFB, renaissance man. Great pacing on a subject I know nothing of, intersperced with great sidebars.
February 10, 2010
Good read...I especially like the wit and humor of William F. I would have loved to dine with Buck and the boys...good wine, good food, good cigars and David Niven - and the conversation - would have been quite a treat. This book is the next best thing to actually being on board. Sail on WFB, sail on.
February 7, 2012
My respect for Mr. Buckley, both as a sailor and as a casting director fleshing out the crew with which he sailed, is amplified. my inability to stomach his diffidence and his politics is, however, undiminished. My bias may keep me from enjoying any other works by the "royal" William F.
June 9, 2010
This was really a wonderful, fun book to read. It almost made me want to make an Atlantic crossing...and if I had Buckley's boat and Buckley's crew...perhaps we would have.
June 13, 2012
I missed sailing and pulled this book to get over it
February 21, 2020
Thoroughly enjoyed reading all of Buckley's sailing books. I wish could have been on board.
January 3, 2014
OK, but not great.
May 11, 2009
Another one, I feel so much love from this guy!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews