The Education of the Poet Dante
Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) is widely recognized as one of the greatest poets of Western civilization. As the author of renowned literary works such as the Vita Nova…
How Should Christians Interact with Great Art?
Is there a point in studying old books that were written hundreds or even thousands of years ago? Can such books relate to contemporary life? Can they…
Why We Need the Liberal Arts
These initial decades of the twenty-first century are times of rapid change and growing anxiety. Public figures on both left and right continue to promote the sharp…
In Defense of the Classics
Why study the classics? An abundance of books has appeared in recent years to answer this question. Many writers and teachers, especially those who are concerned with…
Rediscovering Theodor Haecker: “Vergil, Father of the West”
Father Anthony Giambrone begins his introduction of Theodor Haecker’s Vergil, Father of the West, republished in 2022 by Cluny Media, with a description of the modern West.[1]…
Civilization is Slow Hard Work: A Review of Lee Oser’s “Old Enemies”
Lee Oser. Old Enemies: A Satire. Boston: Senex Press, 2022. Lee Oser’s new novel, Old Enemies, takes place in a contemporary world dominated by ideology, secularism,…
The Priority of Culture: Russell Kirk’s “Concise Guide to Conservatism”
After Russell Kirk published his dissertation in 1953 under the title The Conservative Mind, it became a best-seller. Among the ranks of Robert Nisbet and Richard Weaver,…
Dante’s Transformed Love: Musings on the Poet’s Love for Beatrice
It is well-known that Dante is one of the greatest poets in Western civilization. His magnum opus, The Divine Comedy, is considered one of the crowning achievements…
Flannery O’Connor and Russell Kirk on the Spiritual Foundation of Political Reform
Introduction Mary Flannery O’Connor (1925-1964) is best known as a Roman Catholic novelist, short story writer, and essayist. She is also known as a Southern writer who…
Following the Gaze: Beatrice’s Eyes and Beauty in The Divine Comedy
Introduction In the Convivio, Dante writes about his admiration for a Florentine girl named Beatrice. Here Dante reveals that he first looked at Beatrice when he was…