Author Description

An astute thinker and crafter of impeccable prose, George F. Will is known to millions of Americans for his syndicated political column and his longtime appearances as a panelist-commentator on the TV programs Agronsky and Company and This Week with David Brinkley. Will's essays reflect his conservative perspective on myriad issues debated by American political philosophers in the late twentieth century, including the controversial topics of abortion, gay rights, affirmative action, pornography, and political correctness. In his more than twenty-five years as a journalist par excellence, Will has contributed significantly to conservative thought and to legal, ethical, and political philosophy; for the breadth and depth of his syndicated columns he was awarded a Pulitzer Prize in 1977. That Will's achievements have too often been overlooked by contemporary political philosophers and legal theorists is the premise of George F. Will, the first book-length study of this notable American commentator. Drawing on a lengthy interview with Will and on a multitude of published sources, the study's author, Larry W. Chappell, explores the major concerns expressed in Will's writings, including selected themes that the writer has widened and refined over time. With its emphasis squarely on Will's domestic political journalism, the study interweaves discussions of Will's ethical and political thought with evaluations of his contributions to conservative doctrine and legal theory. Chappell assesses Will's merits as a journalistic essay writer, tracing the ways in which the writer's work connects us to key issues in contemporary thought and deepening our comprehension of those issues. Highlighting this accessible text are chapters focusing on Will's themes of community and virtue, his interpretation of the Constitution, his applications of his theories to practical politics, and the way in which his writings serve to maintain tension in the American political order. Significantly, Chappell posits, "Will does not depart from the American liberal tradition so sharply as some might suppose.". Eminently suitable for students and teachers of political science and philosophy and of keen appeal to journalists and others interested in political journalism, George F. Will offers a long-overdue appraisal of a foremost observer of our times. Complementing the volume are a Preface, Acknowledgments, Chronology, Notes and References, Selected Bibliography, and Index.