Critical Patriots

John Alvis, a longtime teacher of literature and political philosophy, studies the writers who loved their country enough to hold it to account. From Shakespeare to the American founders and beyond, these authors combined devotion to their homeland with a clear view of its failings.

The result is a rich reflection on what mature patriotism looks like: grateful, honest, and ordered to justice.

• Patriotism in literature and political thought
• Loyalty joined to moral judgment
• Close readings of major authors