The Autumn/Fall issue, like every issue, provides a mix of perspectives on conservatism from around the world. In a time when elites in large cities are so politically and culturally dominant, we have turned out attention to the theme of The Rural Life.
The issue begins with an editorial statement entitled “We Reap What We Sow,” in which we consider how bad immigration policy impacts everyone’s ability to enjoy rural life—and rural areas’ very ability to function. Our featured section on The Rural Life consists of five articles. The first is an essay by Thomas Ooi, “On Going Outside,” which uses C.S. Lewis as a springboard to consider man’s need to have a deeper awareness of creation than that enforced by so much of modern life. Next, Jonathon Van Maren visits “James Herriot’s Yorkshire” and the home that inspired All Creatures Great and Small. He considers how policy blunders and cultural shifts have made it almost impossible for anything like this charming life to exist in the UK today. In “The British Commonwealth’s Last Swashbuckler,” Sebastian Morello travels to South Africa for his “Symposia” documentary series, speaking with farmers doing crucial work of conservation, but conservation in a deeply conservative mode. Anthony Daniels then shares his reflections on “The Rural Life,” and the section concludes with Sebastian Morello’s interview with Viktor Orbán’s spokesman and avid outdoorsman, Zoltán Kovács, in which the two discuss how hunting has made a comeback in post-communist Hungary.
Next are four more interviews. The first presents a conversation between the famous firebrand author Renaud Camus, in which Louis Betty asks him about his writings and the state of the West today (translated by Ethan Rundell). Rod Dreher then interviews Louis Betty about the experience of translating and Renaud Camus’ works into English and the import of these writings. Álvaro Peñas interviews Islam expert Robert B. Spencer about the role of the ‘religion of peace’ in the West today. Then the founders of patriotic Spanish film group Terra Ignota tell Álvaro Peñas about the importance of the Valley of the Fallen and their work protecting it.
This is followed by three essays. The first is “Fifty Years Ago: The Silent Majority in Portugal” by Thomas Gallagher. In keeping with this issue’s agrarian theme, this is followed by James Bradshaw’s reflection on “The Economic Wisdom of Chesterbelloc,” which points a way towards healthy economic policy for the Right in the wake of the Left’s abandonment of the poor. We are also pleased to present a reprint of the classic—and often difficult to find—“Credo of an Old-Fashioned Conservative” by the late George Barton Cutten.
As with every issue, The European Conservative draws readers attention to works that can help us to understand our civilization and live in ways that defend it. Reviews begin with “The Conservative Bookshelf,” where several contributors highlight books that are of interest to readers and might otherwise be missed. This is followed by John Ehrett’s review of Marilynne Robinson’s recent bestseller, Reading Genesis and Jesse Ruseell’s review of W. Jeffery Tatum’s A Noble Ruin: Mark Antony, Civil War, and the Collapse of the Roman Republic. Then, Ferenc Hörcher examines an often-overlooked (and even more often misunderstood) virtue when he reviews Bellitto’s recent book Humility. Garrett Robinson argues that, despite making quite a splash among certain crowds, Gabriele and Perry’s recent history of the medieval era, The Bright Ages, fails to leave an impression. Turning towards literature, Alberto M. Fernandez then reviews the new translation of Jean Raspail’s important novel Seprentrion, and Jorge González-Gallarza discusses Joseph Epstein’s The Novel: Who Needs It? Finally, Joshua Hren reviews a recent book about the later years of an influential German poet and philosopher, Hölderlin’s Madness: Chronicle of a Dwelling Life, 1806–1843 by Giorgio Agamben.
In The Good Life, Sebastian Morello reviews the dark Porta 6. David Engels considers the “Doomed Utopia” of Heliopolis and Anthony Daniels examines “The End of Reading.” Hélène de Lauzun pays tribute to Marie-France Garaud, who passed earlier this year. The issue closes with Mark Dooley’s reflections on his late friend, Jacques Derrida, whom he argues ought to be considered an intellectual friend of more contemporary conservatives.
As is true for every edition, all of the contributions were curated or commissioned by Alvino-Mario Fantini, editor-in-chief. The writers have diverse professional and intellectual backgrounds from politics and philosophy to the arts and popular culture.
