William F. Buckley, Jr.’s death in February 2008 set off an avalanche of deeply felt tributes. He deserved them all. Editor, debater, columnist, lecturer, novelist, television host, sailor, and musician, for nearly six decades he had been an indefatigable champion of conservatism and a singular presence in American public life.

Buckley was probably the most important public intellectual of the past half-century. He was unquestionably the most prolific, publishing 55 books (both fiction and non-fiction); dozens of book reviews; at least 56 introductions, prefaces, and forewords to other people’s books; more than 225 obituary essays; more than 800 editorials, articles, and comments in National Review; several hundred articles in periodicals other than National Review; and more than 5,700 newspaper columns. He gave hundreds of lectures around the world (about 70 a year, at the peak); hosted 1,504 episodes of Firing Line, and may well have composed more letters than any American who has ever lived.