Posted on 01/12/2023 2:59:08 PM PST by Borges
Paul Johnson, the prolific journalist, historian, biographer, speechwriter and novelist whose public conversion in 1977 from Labour Party stalwart to bulldog defender of Margaret Thatcher and conservatism made him a divisive figure in British literary circles, died on Thursday at his home in London. He was 94.
His son Daniel announced the death, “after a long illness,” on Twitter.
A writer of immense range and output, capable of 6,000 words a day when in harness, Mr. Johnson modeled his career after earlier English men of letters, like Thomas Babington Macaulay and G.K. Chesterton. With an affable prose style and supreme confidence in his own opinions, he was happy to deliver forceful judgments on almost anything: the tangled politics of the Middle East, his personal quest for God or the cultural meaning of the Spice Girls.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Loved Modern Times.
RIP
I just bought about 15 of his books.
Was kind of hoping I might some day see him lecture.
RIP Paul Johnson. The most wonderful historian ever.
Used to read his column in Forbes Magazine, outstanding writer and thinker.
Yes, Modern Times is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the 20th century.
His book INTELLECTUALS is essential reading. RIP.
A great favorite of mine.
His “Modern Times” is still essential reading, to explain modern politics, sorting out the genealogy of current ideologies. Its a bit dated now, but nevertheless useful.
His histories are also probably the best short (or reasonably so given the subject) works available.
“A History of the Jews “
“A History of Christianity”
“A History of the American People”
And the wonderful “The Birth of the Modern”, on how the seeds of much of this modern world were sown in the Romantic movement of the 19th century.
Paul Johnson’s book on INTELLECTUALS and their harmful legacy to the western world is for me personally, a classic.
Everyone who wants to be a “progressive” should read at least this one book of his.
Rest in Peace Mr. Johnson and thank you for your positive influence on the conservative movement.
I started my readings of his works with “The Birth of the Modern” in 1991. My mom wanted to buy me a book and insisted I name one and The Birth of the Modern had just come out. She complained that I read books that were too expensive, LOL.
I was hooked and have read a number of others with great appreciation. The left loves to ignore the great writers of the Conservative stripe: Russell Kirk, Thomas Sowell, Richard Weaver, and Paul Johnson fits right in there.
RIP Mr. Johnson...
And Walker Percy.
Brilliant author. I regret that I only own six of his books. Got some catching up to do. RIP
My inspiration. After I read “Modern Times,” I decided I could—I HAD TO-—write such a history of the United States.
Paul Johnson in many ways was the inspiration for “A Patriot’s History of the United States,” and certainly was the model for my subsequent book, “A Patriot’s History of the Modern World.”
His ability to capture a man’s character in just 2-3 lines was unmatched anywhere.
I loved “Birth of the Modern.” I re-read it a year or two ago.
Loved his stuff. RIP
When he was going to school in England, they didn’t teach American history past the revolution. He had to come here to learn the history in order to write, remarkably well, about it.
I was introduced to his works in the late 80’s by one Reverend D. Force, a huge black man who ministered at a 19th century wood frame Baptist church. His voice made James Earl Jones sound like a soprano.
RIP.
If I remember correctly, C.S. Lewis was Johnson’s Oxford tutor. He must have been one of the last ones.
I looked forward every week to his column in the Spectator. There’s an online archive of his columns somewhere. I hope it continues to be maintained.
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