author
James Alexander Kilpatrick
A sharp, influential newspaper columnist and grammarian, he became widely known for his conservative political commentary and his lively writing about English usage. His career also carries a more complicated legacy because of his early public defense of school segregation in the South.
1 Audiobook
Tommy Atkins at War: As Told in His Own Letters
by James Alexander Kilpatrick
About the author
Born in Oklahoma City in 1920, he studied journalism at the University of Missouri and went on to build a long career in newspapers and syndicated commentary. He was especially associated with the Richmond News Leader, where he served as editor, and later reached a national audience through his column, A Conservative View, as well as television appearances.
He wrote on politics, public affairs, and language, and many readers knew him for books and columns on grammar and usage. His style was crisp, opinionated, and often witty, which helped make him a familiar public voice for decades.
Kilpatrick's life and work are remembered in two very different ways: as a successful columnist and language writer, and as an early advocate of segregationist arguments during the era of resistance to Brown v. Board of Education. He died in 2010, leaving behind a body of work that is both influential and controversial.