Keeping The faith

National Review, Jan 29, 2007 by James E. Person, Jr.

Panichas has been faithful in reproducing the exact text of the writings, up to and including one of the few errors of fact--and it's small--found among Kirk's works. In defending his belief that truth is not crafted out of thin air by coffee-house philosophers, Kirk was fond of paraphrasing an ancient saying to the effect that "if we moderns have seen farther, it is because we are as dwarfs mounted on the shoulders of giants," and attributing this to Fulbert of Chartres. In fact, this striking imagery is more likely to have originated with the 12th-century philosopher and teacher Bernard of Chartres.

A helpful "Selective List" of books and articles about Kirk concludes Panichas's volume, which will well serve readers interested in learning about the remarkable man who brought a much-needed prospect of the permanent things to the conservative movement as it arose in the mid-20th century. Long respected as an authority on D. H. Lawrence, Simone Weil, and Joseph Conrad, Panichas cements his reputation as a preeminent authority on Russell Kirk with this well-chosen selection.

Mr. Person is the author of Russell Kirk: A Critical Biography of a Conservative Mind and is at work on The Quotable Kirk.