This article originally appeared on the website of the . .听
On October 1, at a dinner in Philadelphia, ISI presented听Bradley J. Birzer听with the 2016 Henry and Anne Paolucci Book Award for听Russell Kirk: American Conservative.听
A distinguished panel of judges chose this masterful biography from among five impressive finalists. The听Wall Street Journal听hails Birzer鈥檚听Russell Kirk听as听鈥渁听beautifully written and deeply insightful biography.鈥澨齌he听Library of Law and Liberty听proclaims it nothing less than 鈥渁听masterwork鈥濃�斺�渢he definitive assessment of Kirk as a social, historical, and political thinker.鈥� Likewise, the听Claremont Review of Books听calls听Russell Kirk听鈥渢he definitive book about this important, fascinating, and good man.鈥�
Perhaps听National Review听best explained not only the quality but also the timeliness of Birzer鈥檚 magisterial work:
Given the confused and dispirited state of American conservatism at the present moment, it is high time for a Russell Kirk revival. The very thought of such a revival is appealing, even exhilarating, and the appearance of Bradley J. Birzer鈥檚 splendid and exhaustively researched biography of Kirk just might provide the catalyst needed to set it in motion.
At the Paolucci Award dinner,听Birzer gave a stirring talk about what he learned during his extensive research into Russell听Kirk鈥檚 life and writings.
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