Russell Kirkwas born in 1918 in Michigan, about a month before the end of World War I. Woodrow Wilson was president, the Spanish flu pandemic hit the shores of the US and would eventually kill between 50 and 100 million globally, and the U.S. House of Representatives vote to pass an amendment to give women the right to vote.
Many people have heard of Kirk because of his conservative political theory and the many, many writings on the United States history and politics. But did you know that he was an avid writer of ghost stories and Gothic fiction? Me neither! But I am going to take a look soon.
Russell Kirk’s Roots of American Order is a Classic for High Schoolers
I read The Roots of American Order a few years ago as I was preparing myself for my kids to reach their teen years. Now that they are in high school, this wonderful survey through the roots which contribute to the society in which we live today is on our curriculum for next year.
The premise of this book is that the order we enjoy in our society today came from Hebrew law, as passed on to us through the Bible, Solon’s eunomia, Roman virtue and law, and Christianity. All these combined, added, and were further enhanced by Western Civilization down the ages to the point of the formation of the American Republic. It is a fascinating look at the development of the order we enjoy and the sources of the disorder that threatens us today. Perfect for high school aged students as it draws on all the knowledge you have been pouring into them for years of history, ancients, economics, literature, and Biblical truths.
