Hello
John,
Every week, the Russell Kirk Center’s journal, the University Bookman, provides new reviews of books that are worth reading and that shape the cultural conversation. Our readers are not specialists, but those who value the liberally-educated mind. Founded by Russell Kirk in 1960, The Bookman has long been a trusted resource for conservatively inclined readers, dedicated to providing humane cultural sustenance year after year.

Many younger writers have published their first review here, appearing alongside some of the foremost conservative voices of our time.

The Bookman is provided free of charge to all readers and without annoying ads or frequent fund-raising appeals. Instead, we focus on one appeal a year and trust in the generosity of Bookman readers to help us through. This campaign runs through the month of October and seeks to raise $20,000 for annual operating costs. Indeed, the cultural yield far exceeds the direct expense of providing such delightful and instructive writing.

Would you please consider supporting the work of the Bookman? The editors volunteer their time so that each donation goes to cover the direct cost of the journal, such as paying reviewers and platform hosting expenses. If one of our readers would be inclined to offer a matching gift, say of $5,000, that would be a boost to our cultural efforts! Please reach out to the Center’s publications manager, Cecilia Kirk Nelson, [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) , if you have interest in such a lead gift for the Bookman.
Support the Bookman ([link removed])

I’ll update you toward the end of the month on the campaign’s status as we hope to reach the goal by November 1.
Location Change for October 23: Celebrating William F. Buckley Jr. at 100

On October 23, we will celebrate the centenary of William F. Buckley Jr., who was instrumental in shaping the renaissance of postwar conservative thought. As founder and longtime editor of National Review, Buckley left an enduring mark on the cultural and political discussion that continues to shape our own time.

Due to the government shutdown, the WFB 100 event cannot be held at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. The location has been changed to the Acton Institute ([link removed]) in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We are grateful to the leadership and events team at Acton Institute for their hospitality! So, on Thursday October 23, from 5:30 - 9:00, we will gather there for panel discussions on "The Role of Education in a Free Society" with Katherine Lopez of the National Review Institute, historian George Nash, and Darrell Falconburg of the Russell Kirk Center; and on "Fusionisms, Old and New" with Charlie Cooke of the National Review Institute, Stephanie Slade of Reason magazine, Nathan Schlueter of Hillsdale College, and moderator John Pinheiro of Acton Institute.

A special presentation, “Otto von Habsburg and William F. Buckley Jr.: A Friendship and a View from Europe,” will feature remarks by Gergely Prőhle, Director, and Bence Kocsev, Collection Fellow, of the Otto von Habsburg Foundation.

This event is co-sponsored by the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, National Review Institute, and the Acton Institute. Registration is completely full, but livestream information will be shared soon. Visit Acton.org or the Kirkcenter.org for livestream details.
Tickets are Now Available for the McLellan Prizes Gala in Washington, DC

In case you missed our announcement last week ([link removed]) , Kristen Waggoner, CEO, President, and Chief Counsel of Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), has been named the recipient of the second annual Richard D. McLellan Prize of $50,000 for Advancing Free Speech and Expression.
"There has never been a more critical time in history to protect the bedrock principle of free speech. Such a pursuit takes a vast alliance of liberty-loving, truth-telling, unwavering advocates, and the Russell Kirk Center is among the very finest at preserving constitutional freedoms. It’s a tremendous honor to receive the Richard D. McLellan Prize from this esteemed organization—I am humbled and grateful for this recognition."
– Kristen Waggoner

By honoring Kristen Waggoner, the Russell Kirk Center affirms our mission to advance cultural renewal by preserving the principles of ordered liberty and our enduring constitutional freedoms.

Waggoner and other prize winners will be honored at the 2025 McLellan Prizes Award Gala in Washington, DC on November 19, 2025, and tickets for the event can be reserved here ([link removed]) .

Reserve Your Tickets ([link removed])

New Master Class: “The Moral Imagination of Jane Austen”

The conservative intellectual tradition in the English-speaking world contains not only great works of political thought but also significant literary contributions. As Russell Kirk taught ([link removed]) , the “moral imagination” is central to the conservative understanding of culture and the human person. Such an imagination is nurtured through poetry, art, religion, and especially the great tradition of humane letters.

Therefore, our School of Conservative Studies is offering a class on “The Moral Imagination of Jane Austen ([link removed]) .” Using Austen’s Mansfield Park as the principal text, the course will invite students to consider our perennial task of reconciling permanence and change, while exploring themes of manners, virtue, marriage, and the grounding of our morality. This virtual class will be held on four Tuesday evenings, and the class size is limited to allow for active participation. Uniquely, the last session will be held on Jane Austen’s 250th birthday.

Dr. Leta Sundet, our instructor for this course, is an Assistant Professor of English at Hillsdale College. She earned her B.A. in Liberal Arts from New Saint Andrews College in 2012, followed by an M.A. in Theology and Letters in 2013. She went on to receive a second M.A. in English Literature (2015) and a Ph.D. in English Literature (2022) from the University of Dallas. Dedicated to both scholarship and teaching, Dr. Sundet is a popular teacher in person and online. She is known for her engaging, thoughtful instruction and her ability to guide students into a deeper appreciation of imaginative literature.

[link removed]

Time: Tuesdays, 7:00 – 8:30 pm ET
Dates: November 25; December 2, 9, and 16
Faculty: Dr. Leta Sundet
Location: Online
Tuition: $100

Applications are due by October 30. Please send a letter of interest and resume to Darrell Falconburg, Academic Program Officer, at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]?subject=The%20Moral%20Imagination%20of%20Jane%20Austen%20inquiry) .

The University Bookman is Bringing Good Literature to Life
In keeping with this month’s focus on good literature and discussion, you can find both on “Book Gallery” webinars, hosted by Luke Sheahan, editor of the University Bookman.

If you missed the Book Gallery episode with Christopher J. Scalia speaking about his book, 13 Novels Conservatives Will Love (But Probably Haven’t Read), it is now available on the Kirk Center’s YouTube channel ([link removed]) . And here’s my review of the book posted in Law and Liberty ([link removed]) this week.
[link removed]
On Tuesday, October 28, at 6 p.m., the “Book Gallery” will feature an enjoyable discussion with James Panero, executive editor of The New Criterion, and Adam Simon, Hollywood screenwriter, as they explore Russell Kirk’s fiction and how it relates to his conservative thought and imagination. Join this free event by registering here.
Register for our Kirktober Book Gallery ([link removed])

Timely action is of the essence for the above events.

But I’ll leave you with a perennial piece by Russell Kirk: Conserving Order, Justice, and Freedom ([link removed]) . Why the U.S. Constitution succeeded when others failed will be a focus of Kirk Center programs beginning later this year.

Yours in the permanent things,

Jeffrey O. Nelson, Ph.D.
Executive Director & CEO
Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal
Support the Kirk Center ([link removed])

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