Franse revolutie en Engelse traditie bevat een rijke bloemlezing uit "The reflections on the revolution in France" (1790) waarmee de Britse denker zich op de internationale politiek-filosofische kaart zette. Wat conservatisme en Burke vandaag kunnen betekenen, licht Theodore Dalrymple toe in een uitgebreide inleiding. Ook al is Burke eerder in nuances dan in slogans samen te vatten; Dalrymple schat Burke hoog in en noemt hem een uiterst relevante richtsnoer in de vloeibare tijden waarin we vandaag leven.
Edmund Burke, was born in Dublin, January 12, educated at a Quaker boarding school and at Trinity College, Dublin. In 1750 he entered the Middle Temple, London, but soon abandoned law for literary work.
The best of Burke's writings and speeches belong to this period, and may be described as a defense of sound constitutional statesmanship against prevailing abuse and misgovernment. In 1788 he opened the trial of Warren Hastings by the speech which will always rank among the masterpieces of English eloquence.
Burke had vast knowledge of political affairs, a glowing imagination, passionate sympathies, and an inexhaustible wealth of powerful and cultured expression. However, his delivery was awkward and speeches which today captivate the reader only served to empty the benches of the House of Commons (some speeches were in excess of eight hours).
One of the foremost political thinkers of 18th century England, Burke died July 9, 1797, and was buried in a little church at Beaconsfield.
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