All Hail the King

Dear Friend,

Our colleague Florence King passed away two weeks ago. On Friday I was in Fredericksburg, VA, her home town (we were neighbors there for a few years in the late 80s), to help handle some of her affairs and to attend a quickly put-together memorial service. I'm not sure if Florence would have liked that, but then, maybe she would have. Dealing with her for over 25 years, I can assure you, she was anything but predictable, even when you thought she'd be dead-certain on a matter.

I can also assure you that she was one of the most talented American writers of our lifetime. But you already knew that.

Her books, such as Confessions of a Failed Southern Lady and Lump It or Leave It are among many triumphs. You can and should visit her Amazon author page.

I worked with Florence on three collections. My favorite is STET! Damnit, which is the complete collection of her original National Review columns, The Misanthrope's Corner (well, technically, the first few columns she wrote were under the heading of "The Gimlet Eye").

I just loved that column. And so did about every reader of the magazine (not too few who subscribed precisely for that back-page pleasure). But that said, I think Florence was at her very best as a writer when she was reviewing books. Deja Reviews: Florence King All Over Again is the complete collection of her reviews for NR and The American Spectator through 2001. She kindly dedicated it to me, which is an honor I still cannot get my head around.

Regardless -- we have 40 sets containing both of these classics (indeed, they represent the remaining copies of these books in NR's possession) and they are available to you from the NRO Store. The price is only $34.95, and that includes shipping and handling. You can order the set here.

The third Florence collection we published, just last year, is Withering Slights, The Bent Pin Collection, 2007 to 2012. It's a terrific read, filled with timeless prose that represents Florence at her best. The cost is only $24.95, which includes shipping, and with each order of Withering Slights we will include a free copy of our quality soft-cover delight, The Whittaker Chambers Reader: His Complete National Review Writings, 1957 to 1959. We've never sold it (we printed some copies in 2014 to give as a gift to our friends and supporters) so this may be your only opportunity to get a copy. You can order Withering Slights here.

If I may: In her final months, Florence suffered and asked for prayers. She sought peace. If she ever gave you pleasure and enjoyment -- and if you read anything she wrote it would be difficult to think you didn't -- then please, if you are the praying type, offer one up for our friend, and the peaceful repose of her soul.

There will never be another like her.

All the best,

Jack Fowler
Publisher
National Review

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