Prospects for Conservatives

The mind and heart of America in this tremendous hour require an inspiration which cannot come out of the party caucus and the editorial room of the daily newspaper. So writes Russell Kirk in Prospects for Conservatives. Sixty years hence the hour is late the situation even more dire. Our governing elites in all areas of social political and cultural life have snapped the central axis of humanity and trampled upon the principles of natural social and transcendent order. But such are not ever lost and it is these that Russell Kirk offers to us in this work--perhaps his best in terms of style as well as intellectual depth and creativity as Bradley Birzer notes in his introduction to this new edition.<p>As Dr. Birzer goes on to indicate the book's importance lies less in the specific issues it addresses than in its discussion of eternal truths. In Prospects the author engages problems of the intellect community justice order loyalty tradition and power; and associates each of these either with the seven classical and Christian virtues or with the seven deadly sins. Yes the hour is late but transcendent order can never be entirely extinguished and its re-articulation in Prospects for Conservatives--bringing it into clear view so that it can affect everyday living--is an unexpected grace from the pen of Russell Kirk given to all whose intellects and imaginations have not yet lost their bearings. In an age when it is all too easily led off course Dr. Kirk offers American conservatism a sure way forward and reason for hope in perilous times.