Message from Fran Griffin
President, Fitzgerald Griffin Foundation
Dear Friends of the Fitzgerald Griffin Foundation,
Thank you for your generosity in supporting the Fitzgerald Griffin Foundation. It is because of you and like-minded souls that the Fitzgerald Griffin Foundation has continued in its mission to defend Western civilization — and that FGF Books, our publishing arm, was able to publish the first posthumous volume of Joe Sobran’s work, Joseph Sobran: The National Review Years: Articles from 1974 to 1991.
The book, which includes some of Joe Sobran’s finest articles, has received rave reviews in conservative and Catholic publications. Paul Gottfried wrote at TakiMag.com on October 1: “In this anthology … one meets a political and social writer with a sense of language that I found unmatched among my contemporaries. (And I’m including Buckley, who for all his personal flaws could turn a phrase but not as well as the editor whom he kicked out to please his well-placed friends.)”
Gottfried continued: “We are still combating many of the same things Joe went after thirty years ago, although the cast of characters is not entirely the same. … He could construct elaborate theological and constitutional arguments with an economy of words.”
Christopher Manion, writing in his October 11 Wanderer newspaper column, From Under the Rubble, continues this theme: “Joe had a knack for putting his finger on timeless issues and translating the ideological writing on the wall into simple prose. … In addition to his enduring smile and a writing style worthy of angelic locutions, Joe’s personality comes bursting through.”
Gary Potter, in an article titled, For Sobran Lovers (I’m One) at Catholicism.org on November 2, said: “Joe Sobran was as gifted a thinker and writer as any on the political and social right in the United States during the past seventy years and the selections in Joseph Sobran: The National Review Years show it.”
Buy this book now —
before they're gone
Chilton Williamson, former book review editor at National Review magazine at the same time that Joe was a senior editor there, wrote in the December edition of Chronicles magazine: “Joe was, indisputably, a hero of modern American letters. ... He could turn from writing brilliant critiques of performances by Sir John Gielgud and Sir Lawrence Olivier to producing equally brilliant sendups of Donahue and Hugh Hefner without diminution either of his artistic and intellectual taste or his critical equipoise.”
Williamson’s thesis in his review was that Joe “was an expert in the process, content, structure, strategy, and application of liberal thought and rhetoric at the popular level, about which he knew as much or more than anyone, including George Orwell.”
In the December edition of Culture Wars magazine, James Bruen recounted some of his favorite parts of the book: “In these collected essays and book reviews, Sobran addresses media bias, liberal biases and pieties, Elvis ("as naïve as his own music"), the Rolling Stones ("Stony Rolls: hard to get into, not much flavor"), Woodstock, Chesterton ("a living challenge to today's reader"), stereotypes, racism ("What's that?"), censorship, Hugh Hefner ("a man waiting in line at the world's biggest gangbang … self consciously tasteless"), liberal Catholics, Jimmy Carter ("Martyr-In-Chief"), Ronald Reagan ("To call him simplistic is simply simplistic."), journalism, and much more.” In the December 10 edition of The New American, Jack McManus writes: “Sobran fans and anyone else who wants a taste of good thinking, great writing, and unabashed loyalty to what made America great, can find it in this anthology. … [This new collection] give[s] the reader a delicious serving of excellent writing, good thinking, and poignant humor. Joe was a man who saw something about which to chuckle in almost everything. His disdain for many of the nation’s political leaders led him to conclude, ‘When most politicians wrestle with their conscience, they win.’ That particular Sobranism would be hard to beat — even by Joe himself.”
Australian writer, R. J. Stove, reviewed the book for The American Conservative magazine’s January–February 2013 issue. He reports that Joe Sobran’s “talents included a rare — indeed a unique — mixture of button-holing informality with austere erudition. …
[This book gives] the surreal experience of hearing Joe’s voice ring forth in every line, as if through a superb stereo system. Tennyson poignantly mourned ‘the touch of a vanished hand, and the sound of a voice that is still’; but he did nothing to prepare us for the timbre of Joe chastising, chortling, lauding, joking, and snarling, large as life and twice as natural. That timbre is the predominant tone of this book.”See links to these and other reviews at the Books page, including those by Allan Brownfeld (A Look at Late 20th Century America from a Perceptive and Talented Observer), and Charles Mills, who concluded in his column Joe Sobran on Contraception by stating: “Sobran’s writing on contraception, abortion, and life issues became legendary during his nearly 40-year writing career, earning him the title, in some circles, as the greatest pro-life essayist of the 20th century.”
If you don’t already have a copy or want extra copies, I suggest buying them soon. Because of last-minute resistance by National Review, this is a limited edition. We printed just 1,000. There will be no reprinting of it. No paperback edition. No e-book.
In fact, the book came very close to not being published at all, but we were able, at considerable expense, to arrange a last-minute arrangement with NR to allow the first (and only) printing of the book to move forward. I am glad that we resolved the copyright dispute, which was a lengthy process that took us by surprise just as the books were rolling off the presses.
Joseph Sobran: The National Review Years is a rare and valuable limited edition. Once the book is gone, it’s gone. I urge you to send your order today.
Meanwhile, we are already beginning to select articles for a new Sobran collection with articles for which we have clear title. That includes practically everything else he wrote in his nearly 40-year career.
Fortunately, news about the current book is getting out through reviews and ads in various publications. I am convinced that this book will inspire young conservatives and future generations of readers. That’s why I want to get the book into the hands of our youth and in as many libraries as possible.
Since most young people do not have the resources to buy hardcover books, I would like to raise funds to donate books to youth leaders of Campaign for Liberty (headed by Ron Paul) and other worthy organizations — assuming we still have books left at the end of the year.
In addition, there are many library trade shows going on every month around the country. In my original budget, we had planned on having the book at the various American Library Association national and regional fairs. When we published the Sam Francis book, this worked well, and we had many orders from libraries all over the country.
I would also like to get a few copies into Christian and conservative college and university libraries around the country.
And, of course, I would love to get a mention in the media about the book. I am sure that both Pat Buchanan and Ann Coulter would be willing to be spokesmen for the book (as well as myself and Tom Bethell, who wrote the Preface) but we have not had the resources to contact the media, other than sending out one news release to them.
I know that radio talk shows on the book could be lined up if we could afford to hire one of the Griffin Communications consultants who are very good at this sort of thing. But at the moment we have not considered this because of lack of funds.
Thus I want you to consider doing two things: First, buy books for gifts for your family, friends, pastor, or colleagues. Everyone who buys at least four books — or contributes $100 or more — or will get a free CD of the timeless essay Joe recorded, “How Tyranny Came to America.” Order here.
Here’s the deal: One book: $25; two books: $45; four books: $90; and six books: $130.
Prices are postpaid to addresses in the continental U.S. (Add $10 for orders to Canada; and $15 per book for overseas orders. See FGFbooks.) See REPLY FORM if you wish to order by mail or fax.
Second, will you consider making a generous tax-deductible donation so that we can promote Joseph Sobran: The National Review Years — and get started on a new collection?
Feel free to call us tollfree at 877-726-0058, or by ordering or donating online
I hope you agree that Joe Sobran’s work should continue to be published and distributed widely. The Fitzgerald Griffin Foundation is the only organization doing this.
But without your help, we will not be able to continue this vitally important mission of collecting and publishing Joe’s work. Thank you for your continued generosity.
May you have a productive and healthy new year.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fran Griffin President
Fitzgerald Griffin FoundationP.S. I hope you can help FGF before the end of the year. I am very proud of the new book, and so far, we have received only laudatory comments. One woman told me “I can’t put it down. It’s fabulous!”
P.P.S. Once the 1,000 books we printed are gone, that’s it. Order right away or there may not be any books left!
The Fitzgerald Griffin Foundation is a tax-exempt organization under the 501(c)(3)
tax code of the Internal Revenue Service. Contributions to the foundation are tax-deductible.
There are four easy ways to donate:1. ONLINE below
2. CALL toll-free at 877-726-0058
3. FAX the reply form to 703-281-6617
4. MAIL a check and the reply form to FGF, 713 Park St., SE, Vienna, VA 22180
P.S. Fill out the REPLY FORM (if not donating by PayPal).
My tax-deductible donation to assist the Fitzgerald Griffin Foundation's educational and publishing projects.
Donors of $100 or more receive a CD or audio tape of Joe Sobran's classic essay, "How Tyranny Came to America."
My tax-deductible donation to assist the Fitzgerald Griffin Foundation's educational and publishing projects.
Donors of $100 or more receive a CD or audio tape of Joe Sobran's classic essay, "How Tyranny Came to America." Donors of $250 receive two new Sobran books (Joseph Sobran: The National Review Years) plus a CD or tape. Donors of $500 receive four Sobran books and two CDs. Donors of $1000 or more receive six books and four CDs.
Hardcover Edition
to be mailed to an address WITHIN the U.S.Choose the number of books you want.
Prices include shipping.
1 book - $26.95 postpaid
2 books - $45 postpaid
4 books - $90 postpaid
6 books - $130 postpaid
For different quantities, email or call us at
1-877-726-0058.Priority Mail Shipping
1 book - $28.95 postpaid
2 books - $49 postpaid
4 books - $98 postpaid
6 books - $142 postpaid
For different quantities, email or call us at
1-877-726-0058.
to be mailed to an address in CanadaChoose the number of books you want.
Prices include shipping.Those ordering four or more books will
receive a free CD of "How Tyranny Came
to America," and audio essay written and recorded by Joe Sobran1 book - $36.95 postpaid
2 books - $65 postpaid
4 books - $130 postpaid
6 books - $190 postpaid
For different quantities, email or call us at
703-242-0058.
JOSEPH SOBRAN: THE NATIONAL REVIEW YEARS book
to be mailed to an address OUTSIDE the U.S.1 book - $41.95 postpaid
Press Release Announcing Publication of Joseph Sobran, the National Review Years
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