The Reactionary Imperative: Essays Literary and Political

by M.E. Bradford

Book by Bradford, M. E.

Genres: Politics

230 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 1999

About the author

M.E. Bradford was professor of English at the University of Dallas and the author of numerous books, including Original Intentions: On the Making and Ratification of the United States Constitution and A Better Guide Than Reason: Studies in the American Revolution.

Reviews

[Al]

This was an outstanding collection of Bradford's essays, covering literary criticism of Faulkner to reviews on Walter Scott and John Taylor. Reading any of Bradford's essays involves no small measure of intellectual humility. I personally enjoyed "Certain Ladies of Quality: Faulkner's Views of Women and the Evidence of "There Was a Queen"", on the contrasting qualities on display among the various female characters in Falkner's corpus. Bradford's writings on Faulkner can be compared to Cleanth Brooks. His deep knowledge of primary source material is evident in his essay challenging the accepted view of Lyndon Johnson as a southern liberal and in his essay examining Lincoln as an ambitious and cunning politician. Reading Bradford's essays is not something that should be done casually, in one sitting. His writing encourages serious, sober consideration and thoughtfulness. He fully engages the reader through his deliberate use of language, and can be closely compared to Richard Weaver.

[Logan Thune]

Quite good. Bradford is thoughtful and insightful, though often outside the contemporary Overton Window.

[Craig Bolton]

The Reactionary Imperative: Essays Literary and Political by M. E. Bradford (1999)