A Torch Kept Lit

Great Lives of the Twentieth Century

By: William F. Buckley

Narrated by: Tony Pasqualini

Length: 9 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

A unique collection of eulogies of the 20th century's greatest figures, written by conservative icon William F. Buckley Jr. and compiled by National Review and Fox News White House correspondent James Rosen.

In a half century on the national stage, William F. Buckley Jr. achieved unique stature as a polemicist and the undisputed godfather of modern American conservatism. He knew everybody, hosted everybody at his East 73rd Street maisonette, skewered everybody who needed skewering, and in general lived life on a scale, and in a swashbuckling manner, that captivated and inspired countless young conservatives across that half century.

Among all of his distinctions, which include founding the conservative magazine National Review and serving as host on the long-running talk show Firing Line, Buckley was a master of that most elusive of art forms: the eulogy. Buckley drew on his unrivaled gifts in what he liked to call "the controversial arts" to mourn, celebrate, or seek eternal mercy for the men and women who touched his life and the nation; to conjure their personalities, recall memorable moments, herald their greatness; or to remind us why a given individual, even with the grace that death can uniquely confer, should be remembered as evil.

At all points these remembrances reflect Buckley's singular voice, with its elegant touch and mordant humor, and lend to the lives departed final tributes consistent with their own careers, lives, and accomplishments. Of the more than 100 eulogies located in Buckley's vast archive of published works, A Torch Kept Lit collects the very best, those remembering the most consequential lives (Kennedy, Nixon, Reagan), the most famous to today's listeners (Elvis Presley, John Lennon, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Princess Diana), those who loomed largest in the conservative movement (Barry Goldwater, Milton Friedman), the most accomplished in the literary world (William Shawn, Norman Mailer), the most mysterious (Soviet spy Alger Hiss, CIA spymaster Richard Helms), and those most dear to Buckley (his mother and father).

©2016 William F. Buckley (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

I Surely Miss That Man

I wish I owned every copy of "The National Review" and a video of every "Firing Line." No one articulated conservatism better than William F. Buckley, and he did it with such aplomb and class. There exists no one today of any political persuasion who is anywhere near his equal. This audible book, with its excellent reading, is a fine reminder of what perfection is, and it will be listened to by me over and over.

Excellent

It was like listening to WFB one more time.....hope you enjoy it as well as I did.

James Rosen kept the torch of Conservatism lit

I hope many will read WFB’s candid profiles of the great and the profane. Buckley is a wonderful, funny and entertaining storyteller.

May he have found his just rewards.

Really quite good.

You will excuse me for withholding the fifth star over the trifle of one mispronunciation. Otherwise, totally enjoyable and very well done.

It's WFB at his best

This was magnificent sketch of the century.
I would have been better in his voice, but we can't have everything.

Readable and accessible

This book of the selected obituaries penned by the late William F. Buckley works on every level, and is an example of how to write an obituary. While Buckley can get snarky at times, his language is characteristically challenging yet understandable.

Kept lit indeed

Any fan of good writing will enjoy this regardless of their political leanings. Buckley was a master without a contemporary equal except for perhaps the editor of this volume who has rekindled that which needs to be kept lit.

Excellent...inspiring imagery!

I am a fine artist and I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves history as well as a story well written.... A life well told.
The imagery created by the words and phrases chosen feels like a journey shared.....
The narration is comfortable and the narrator more than capable.
William F. Buckley.... I had no idea! An amazing life!

Great insight into a conservative Giant!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

For conservatives that enjoy learning about an Icon of conservatism, this book gives insight from a revealing direction - obituaries & remembrances. I found it fascinating. The language used between friends and foes is so interesting because the words are sometimes archaic & unknown in their meaning. It's a group that very comfortably used language in a formal way - much as was done in earlier centuries. Great stuff!!

Any additional comments?

I loved the way it was written and the way each obituary was introduced with an overview or history of the background between Buckley and the deceased.

Wonderful read

I most highly recommend it. Lots of historical bits of past influencers of our modern nation.