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Athwart History: Half a Century of Polemics, Animadversions, and Illuminations: A William F. Buckley Jr. Omnibus
For most of the last century, William F. Buckley Jr. was the leading figure in the conservative movement in America. The magazine he founded in 1955, National Review , brought together writers representing every strand of conservative thought, and refined those ideas over the decades that followed. Buckley’s own writings were a significant part of this development. He was not a theoretician but a popularizer, someone who could bring conservative ideas to a vast audience through dazzling writing and lively wit.
Culled from millions of published words spanning nearly sixty years, Athwart History: Half a Century of Polemics, Animadversions, and Illuminations offers Buckley’s commentary on the American and international scenes, in areas ranging from Kremlinology to rock music. The subjects are widely varied, but there are common threads linking them all: a love for the Western tradition and its American manifestation; the belief that human beings thrive best in a free society; the conviction that such a society is worth defending at all costs; and an appreciation for the quirky individuality that free people inevitably develop.
Culled from millions of published words spanning nearly sixty years, Athwart History: Half a Century of Polemics, Animadversions, and Illuminations offers Buckley’s commentary on the American and international scenes, in areas ranging from Kremlinology to rock music. The subjects are widely varied, but there are common threads linking them all: a love for the Western tradition and its American manifestation; the belief that human beings thrive best in a free society; the conviction that such a society is worth defending at all costs; and an appreciation for the quirky individuality that free people inevitably develop.
550 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
22 people are currently reading
188 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 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 5, 2010
This book was so immensely enjoyable, I deliberately stretched the reading out to three weeks, doing whatever I could to avoid finishing it, on most days refusing to read more than 50 pages. This will prove indispensable for any Buckley fan; quite possibly the best book I've read in the last five years.
October 11, 2015
A fascinating collection of essays from an equally fascinating man. I have long been a Buckley admirer, and am awed by his accomplishments ... And definitely by his vocabulary and erudition!
April 19, 2015
There was a time when I liked Buckley. Now that I know more, he is scum. Just like the evil Vatican and its Jesuit assassins.
August 11, 2023
This collection of Buckley’s travel essays largely is non-political. All the sailing stories are timeless. (But then I am an ex-casual sailor.) The airline complaints less so; and the railroad complaints were past the sell-by when WFB wrote them.
No matter. I find his writing almost endlessly entertaining and informative, in the sense of referencing literature I’ve not read before.
No matter. I find his writing almost endlessly entertaining and informative, in the sense of referencing literature I’ve not read before.
July 3, 2023
Caused me to rethink many of my opinions about American politics. Buckley is a witty writer, as well.
April 26, 2020
William F.Buckley,Jr.(God Rest his Soul)The Man Behind "Firing Line" and National Review,One of if not my Favorite Author and Intellectual and Conservative,Why he never ran For President and chose to be a Behind the scenes kingmaker I do not know,however the Man's influence there is no denying among a Who's Who's Including Reagan(The Very Best),Goldwater(prior to becoming Morally Liberal) are among my other favorites,this Book is a collection of his Best Essays from Magazines and Books.Although I disagree with his Later in life position for Legalization and perhaps his Embrace of Libertarianism(I being a Proud Right Winger,Both Morally and Fiscally not an Anarchist like Libertarians or morally devoid like Them,mind you there are Libertarians I like but please no Ron Paul.),There is no denying he had a Way with words,A Sway with anything and Everything.From His Staunch AntiCommunism(My Favorite Part Along with His Catholicism) to his Anti-NewDeal,to His Essays against Mao,Castro and Anything stinky of that nature.His Lexicon and his persuasion,The Man is a Legend and A Conservative with you know what something missing from the many today that sadly would rather gravitate towards the "Moderate" or Rockerfeller-Esque Eastern Establishment liberal.Viva Buckley!Long Live the Right and May we keep on with the struggle against these Hoodlum radicals.
May 6, 2012
A good picture of one of modern conservatism's intellectual giants. This book is divided by subject matter and date. A solid read for any Buckley fan. It include's his writings prior to the founding of National Review and gives the reader insight into the contentious issues of the times. For a younger man like myself, it is an invaluable read.
September 23, 2016
This is a fairly comprehensive collection of Buckley's columns on political subjects. It has all the classics contained therein.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews