Christopher Scalia, son of the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, has gifted conservatives with a literary roadmap that challenges the left’s monopoly on cultural enrichment through his new book “13 Novels Conservatives Will Love (But Probably Haven’t Read).”
While the mainstream media constantly pushes progressive literature onto Americans, Scalia’s carefully curated collection offers conservatives intellectually stimulating fiction that reinforces traditional values without compromising on literary quality. His selections avoid the usual suspects in conservative circles, introducing readers to overlooked classics and contemporary gems that combine entertainment with enduring wisdom about human nature, society, and moral principles. These novels promise to strengthen conservative readers’ cultural arsenal while providing genuine enjoyment—proving that great literature isn’t exclusively the domain of the political left.
Beyond Politics: Why Conservatives Need Fiction
For too long, many conservatives have focused primarily on political treatises and non-fiction works while ceding the cultural terrain of literature to progressives. This intellectual blind spot has weakened the conservative movement’s ability to shape American culture at its deepest levels.
Christopher Scalia, recognizing this critical gap, has stepped forward with a solution that honors both literary excellence and conservative principles. His approach acknowledges that conservatism is fundamentally rooted in custom, convention, and continuity rather than abstract ideologies.
“Over the past couple of decades, conservatives have recognized how important culture is in shaping a people, shaping a nation,” Scalia explains. “We’ve seen how conservatives have tried to act on that by forming production studios and the like, but I think fiction, and the novel in particular, is something we might overlook, in part because there might be the assumption that literature is necessarily a left-wing cultural concern.”
Unlike dry political manifestos, fiction develops what Scalia calls a “sympathetic imagination” – the ability to understand different perspectives and human experiences that inform a truly conservative worldview. This approach echoes Edmund Burke’s emphasis on historical experience and practical wisdom over abstract theories that has long defined conservative thought.
The 13 Novels That Made The Cut
Scalia’s collection deliberately avoids the usual conservative literary staples in favor of lesser-known works that still embody timeless principles. His selections include classics from authors like Nathaniel Hawthorne and George Eliot alongside more contemporary offerings.
Rather than choosing works solely for their political messages, Scalia prioritized novels that are, first and foremost, enjoyable to read. “The primary reason anybody should read any book is because it’s enjoyable,” Scalia insists.
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“Nobody’s going to want to read a book because it’s the literary equivalent of eating your broccoli. My hope is that all of these novels are first and foremost great works of literature: They will entertain people, they will delight people.”
Each selection engages with conservative ideals in different ways – some exploring the importance of family and community, others examining the dangers of unchecked progressivism or the complexity of human nature that defies utopian schemes. What unites them is their ability to convey these truths through compelling storytelling rather than heavy-handed moralizing.
Reclaiming Cultural Ground
Scalia’s project represents a broader conservative awakening to the need for cultural engagement beyond politics. While the left has long recognized the power of storytelling to shape hearts and minds, conservatives have sometimes dismissed fiction as frivolous or overly dominated by progressive voices.
This dismissal has been costly, allowing progressives to dominate cultural institutions and use literature as a vehicle for advancing their worldview. By rediscovering and championing great novels that align with conservative principles, Scalia’s work offers a path toward reclaiming this lost ground.
“If you talk to conservatives who like to read fiction, you can find them. But they tend to praise the same handful of books or authors. Those aren’t necessarily bad books or authors, and the purpose of this book is not to say stop reading those books—but it’s an attempt to expand the conservative bookshelf a little bit.”
The timing of Scalia’s collection couldn’t be more critical, as Americans increasingly turn to alternative sources for cultural enrichment amid growing distrust of mainstream institutions. His work provides conservatives with the intellectual ammunition needed to engage confidently with the literary world while staying true to their principles.
Unlike many progressive literary guides that prioritize identity politics and social justice themes over actual quality, Scalia’s selections stand on their literary merits while naturally embodying conservative insights about human nature and society. This approach honors the conservative tradition of valuing wisdom derived from lived experience rather than abstract theories.
Building A Conservative Literary Tradition
Scalia’s work builds upon a rich conservative intellectual heritage. Figures like Russell Kirk, who compiled influential lists of essential conservative books, recognized that conservatism isn’t merely a political ideology but a “state of mind” or “body of sentiments” that can be expressed through various literary forms.
By highlighting novels that embody conservative principles, Scalia continues this tradition while making it accessible to modern readers. His approach acknowledges that great literature transcends political categories while still conveying truths that align with conservative values.
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“Burke has endured as the permanent manual without which statesmen are as sailors on an uncharted sea,” wrote Harold Laski, underscoring how enduring works shape our understanding far more effectively than passing political trends. Scalia’s selections similarly promise to provide conservatives with lasting insights rather than merely affirming current political positions.
The collection serves another crucial purpose – demonstrating that conservatives can and should engage with cultural achievements on their own terms, rather than ceding this territory to progressive gatekeepers. By identifying and celebrating novels that speak to conservative sensibilities, Scalia challenges the left’s presumed monopoly on literary taste.
This cultural reclamation project comes at a critical moment when many Americans are questioning the progressive dominance of educational and cultural institutions. Scalia’s work offers conservatives a positive alternative – not just criticizing the current cultural landscape but providing substantive resources for building something better.