William F. Buckley Jr.

Easton Press William F. Buckley Jr. books

Atlantic High: a celebration - nautical classics library - 1987
Racing through Paradise: a Pacific passage - 1991
Windfall: the end of the affair - signed first edition - 1992
Saving the Queen - 1996
Buckley: The Right Word - signed first edition - 1996
The Redhunter - signed first edition - 1999
Miles gone by - signed autobiography - 2004
Airbourne - signed (part of 6 volume nautical set)

Franklin Library William F. Buckley Jr. books

The Story of Henry Todd - signed first edition - 1984
On the Firing Line - signed first edition - 1989

 

William F. Buckley Jr. biography

William F. Buckley Jr., an intellectual giant and conservative icon, was born on November 24, 1925, in New York City, to Aloise Josephine Antonia and William Frank Buckley Sr. From an early age, Buckley displayed exceptional intelligence and a voracious appetite for learning. His upbringing in a conservative, Catholic household laid the foundation for his future political and intellectual pursuits. After attending the National Autonomous University of Mexico and the University of Mexico, Buckley served in the United States Army during World War II. Following his military service, he continued his education at Yale University, where he became a prominent figure in campus politics and founded the Yale Daily News. Graduating in 1950, Buckley embarked on a journey that would define modern American conservatism.

In 1955, Buckley published God and Man at Yale, a scathing critique of what he perceived as the liberal bias in higher education. This marked the beginning of his career as a prolific author, columnist, and commentator. A year later, he founded the National Review, a conservative magazine that became a cornerstone of the conservative movement. Through the National Review, Buckley provided a platform for conservative intellectuals and writers, solidifying his role as a leading voice in American conservatism.

Buckley's influence extended beyond the written word. In 1966, he ran for mayor of New York City as the candidate of the Conservative Party, bringing conservative principles into the political arena. Although he did not win, his candidacy had a lasting impact on conservative political engagement. Known for his eloquence and wit, Buckley became a familiar face on television. His long-running program Firing Line, which debuted in 1966, featured interviews and debates with prominent figures from various ideological backgrounds. The show showcased Buckley's sharp intellect and ability to engage in civil discourse, making it one of the longest-running public affairs programs in television history.

As a prolific author, Buckley penned numerous books, covering a wide range of topics from politics to sailing and linguistics. Some of his notable works include Up from Liberalism (1959), The Unmaking of a Mayor (1966), and Cancel Your Own Goddam Subscription (2007). William F. Buckley Jr. left an indelible mark on American conservatism, shaping its intellectual foundations and fostering a movement that would redefine the political landscape. His legacy includes his contributions as a writer, editor, commentator, and political activist. Buckley passed away on February 27, 2008, but his ideas and influence continue to resonate in the realms of politics and conservative thought.

 

Atlantic High - A Celebration

Ostensibly the tale of his 1980 voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic High is William F. Buckley's extended meditation on the pleasures of sailing and good company. Not surprisingly, as much thought seems to have gone into stocking the wine cellar as to charting out the route. Kon-Tiki, this is not, but nor is it meant to be. Instead, it is an essay on appreciation, and a chance for Buckley to share his spirited point of view and exercise his unique sense of humor.
After a leisurely, aside-filled discussion of other trips, Buckley sets out with several close friends and a photographer to make his second trans-Atlantic crossing. The first provided the basis for his popular book, Airborne. When asked by People magazine why he chose to make the journey again, Buckley replies with characteristic drollness, "the wedding night is never enough." It is a passion for sailing that motivates Buckley and enlivens his pages.
The book ranges fluidly from observation to speculation, from humorous character sketch to wry editorial commentary. It is peppered with anecdotes, including one in which Buckley, armed with a hacksaw, breaks into a boatyard to steal his own boat back from an unscrupulous repairman. In another, an aide to president Reagan calls to discuss a conflict brewing in Africa, and all Buckley can think about is the weather ahead of him and his crew.
The real focus of Atlantic High, however, is the voyage and the crewmembers who share it. From the Mujeres Islands to Fiji to Bermuda, to Sao Miguel and Gibraltar and beyond, the reader is treated to Buckley's observations of the places he visits and the people he encounters. A work as hard to categorize as Buckley himself, Atlantic High offers a glimpse into the good life on the high seas.

Racing through Paradise - A Pacific Passage

The third of Bill Buckley's brilliant sailing books, chronicling his 4,000-mile voyage across the Pacific with four close friends, including his son and a photographer. 150 black-and-white and 35 color photographs.

Windfall - The End of The Affair

1990 was a significant year for Buckley. He not only embarked on a sailing trip that forms the main subject of this book, but on several other major passages: the 40th anniversary of his marriage and his graduation from Yale, and the 35th anniversary of the founding of the National Review. 111 photographs, 27 in color. Line drawings.

Saving the Queen

Blackford Oakes has never been afraid of obeying orders. During the war, it’s what kept him alive. When he leaves the air force for Yale, Oakes is studious, temperate, and polite. He knows how to follow rules but he also knows the secret to breaking them: Never tell a little lie when a big lie will do. He’s exactly the man the CIA is looking for.
 
Just before Oakes graduates, an old friend recruits him to work for the Company. His military background, knowledge of French, and family in London make Oakes a perfect choice for the most glamorous role the CIA has to offer: deep-cover agent. When his 1st assignment reveals Soviet espionage inside Buckingham Palace and a plot against the young Queen, Oakes will throw the rulebook out the window.
 
Saving the Queen is the 1st book in the Blackford Oakes Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

Buckley - The Right Word

Buckley’s provocative observations on the use and abuse of English, gathered for the first time in a single volume.

The Redhunter - A Novel Based on the Life of Senator Joe McCarthy

From the celebrated conservative comes a rich and complex novel about one of the most conspicuous political figures in American history Senator Joe McCarthy.

Miles Gone By - A Literary Biography

Here is a unique collection of fifty years of essays chosen to form an unconventional autobiography and capstone to his remarkable career as the conservative writer par excellence. Included are essays that capture Buckley's joyful boyhood and family life; his years as a conservative firebrand at Yale; the life of a young army officer; his love of wine and sailing; memories of his favourite friends; the great influences of music and religion; a life in politics; and exploring the beauty, diversity, and exactitude of the English language.

 

The Story of Henry Todd

In the summer of 1961 just as the Berlin Wall is about to slam shut the last escape route out of Eastern Europe, President Kennedy needs to know what the Soviets are up to, and Blackford Oakes is sent to Germany to get the answers. When Oakes's contact, Henri Tod, turns up missing, Blackford locks horns with East Germany's unscrupulous communist boss.

On the Firing Line - The Public Life of Our Public Figures

Writing out of the unique experience of 23 years of the Firing Line television series, Bill Buckley, in his inimitable style, and his astonishing guests relive and explore many of the main issues of this quarter of the 20th century in excerpts and commentary. A provocative book full of discussion, fireworks and laughter!