Conversations with William F. Buckley Jr.
Conversations with William F. Buckley Jr.
Although recognized for founding National Review, hosting television’s Firing Line, and being one of the principal architects of the American conservative movement, William F. Buckley Jr. (1925-2008) was also a prominent literary figure. At his peak, he produced about 350,000 words for publication a year, and he was never at a loss for what to say or how to say it. He wrote over 7,000 columns, articles, reviews, introductions, forewords, obituaries, and more, in addition to publishing fifty-seven books of fiction and nonfiction.
Conversations with William F. Buckley Jr. features interviews from 1970 to 2005, in which Buckley holds court on a variety of subjects: the Cold War, civil rights, literature, sailing, and the many strands of American culture and politics. Throughout his life, he was a prime subject for interviews, as his observations combined raw intelligence, vigorous wit, and a healthy sense of humor.
Buckley bibliographer Meehan has gathered fifteen interviews from 1970 to 2005 for Mississippi’s long-running Literary Conversations Series. Readers who agreed with Buckley’s politics and enjoyed his wit will savor the collection of conversations. Those who disagreed, and dismissed Buckley, may be surprised at how well they like him here and surprised again at some of his opinions, which address topics ranging widely from politics to writing to sailing to music to any number of other areas. Among his opinions, stated in a 1970 interview: 'It is still hard as hell to find a young conservative with writing talent.' VERDICT: Meehan’s book is a highly recommended introduction to a wide-ranging man.
William F. Meehan III is assistant professor of library and information science at Valdosta State University. He is author of William F. Buckley Jr.: A Bibliography, and his work has appeared in Notes on Contemporary Literature, Journal of American Culture, and other periodicals.
