A new collection of writings by Russell Kirk—on America’s constitutional tradition, the Declaration of Independence, and its literary inheritance—will be released on June 9, 2026. Edited by Michael Lucchese, with a foreword by Bradley Birzer, this handsome volume is among the first titles from the new publishing house, Creed & Culture.

In On America, Kirk argues that the United States is not merely an “experiment,” but a distinctive expression of the Western tradition. The American Founding, he contends, was an essentially conservative achievement—one grounded in inherited principles, prudent statesmanship, and a moral order worthy of preservation.

The collection brings together Kirk’s reflections on great American statesmen from John Adams to Abraham Lincoln, alongside his interpretations of major literary figures, including Nathaniel Hawthorne and—in a previously unpublished essay—Mark Twain. The result is a timely volume that clarifies what America means, and what it means to be an American.

Released on the eve of America’s 250th anniversary, this collection distills Kirk’s lifetime of reflection on the significance and legacy of 1776. The Kirk Center will host lectures, panel discussions, and reading groups drawing upon the book in the months ahead.