Christopher Buckley

Christopher Buckley
Name	Christopher Buckley
Birth date	28 September 1952
Birth place	New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Novelist, satirist, Essayist, Editor
Education	Yale University (BA)
Spouse	Lucy Gregg, 1981, 2012, Katherine Clark (m. 2015)

Christopher Buckley is an American author and political satirist renowned for his witty and incisive novels lampooning Washington, D.C. culture, American politics, and corporate life. The son of the influential conservative commentator William F. Buckley Jr., he forged a distinct literary path, often critiquing both sides of the political aisle from a centrist perspective. A prolific writer, his career spans bestselling fiction, non-fiction essays, and editorial roles at publications like Forbes and his father's magazine, *National Review*. His work has earned prestigious accolades including the Thurber Prize for American Humor and the Washington Irving Medal for Literary Excellence.

Early life and education

He was born in Manhattan to William F. Buckley Jr., the founder of *National Review*, and Patricia Taylor Buckley, a noted socialite and philanthropist. He spent much of his youth in Stamford, Connecticut, and was educated at preparatory schools, including the St. Mark's School in Southborough, Massachusetts. He subsequently attended Yale University, where he graduated with a degree in English literature in 1975. During his time at Yale, he was a member of the Yale Literary Magazine and the secret society Scroll and Key, experiences that immersed him in writing and the intellectual milieu that would shape his future career.

Career

After a brief stint working for his father at *National Review*, he served as a speechwriter for George H. W. Bush during his tenure as Vice President of the United States. This experience in the heart of the Reagan Administration provided rich material for his later satires. He left politics for full-time writing, becoming the managing editor of *Esquire* and later a columnist for Forbes. His literary breakthrough came with the novel Thank You for Smoking (1994), a dark comedy about a lobbyist for the tobacco industry. This was followed by numerous other bestselling satires such as Little Green Men, No Way to Treat a First Lady, and Boomsday, which established him as a leading voice in American political humor.

Political views and commentary

While emerging from a staunchly conservative household, his own views evolved into a more independent, centrist stance, often expressing disillusionment with both the Republican and Democratic parties. He publicly endorsed Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election, a decision that caused a notable rift with some readers of *National Review*. His commentary, found in essays for The New Yorker, The New York Times, and The Daily Beast, frequently critiques political hypocrisy, cultural polarization, and the absurdities of the Beltway media complex. He has described himself as a moderate or a libertarian with a small "l," valuing pragmatism and civil discourse.

Personal life

He was married to Lucy Gregg Buckley, an artist and photographer, from 1981 until their divorce in 2012; they have two children, Conor and Caitlin. In 2015, he married author and literary manager Katherine Clark. He has lived primarily in Washington, D.C., and St. Michaels, Maryland. An avid sailor, he has written about his maritime experiences for The New York Times. His life was profoundly affected by the deaths of his parents, particularly his mother's passing in 2007, which he movingly chronicled in the memoir Losing Mum and Pup: A Memoir (2009).

Awards and honors

His contributions to American letters have been recognized with several major awards. He received the Thurber Prize for American Humor for No Way to Treat a First Lady in 2002. In 2015, he was awarded the Washington Irving Medal for Literary Excellence from the Westchester Library System. His novel Thank You for Smoking was adapted into a critically acclaimed feature film directed by Jason Reitman. He has also been a finalist for the National Book Award and his papers are housed in the special collections of the Boston University library.

Selected works

* Steaming to Bamboola (1982) – Non-fiction * The White House Mess (1986) – Novel * Thank You for Smoking (1994) – Novel * Little Green Men (1999) – Novel * No Way to Treat a First Lady (2002) – Novel * Florence of Arabia (2004) – Novel * Boomsday (2007) – Novel * Losing Mum and Pup: A Memoir (2009) – Memoir * They Eat Puppies, Don't They? (2012) – Novel * The Relic Master (2015) – Novel * The Judge Hunter (2018) – Novel

Category:American political satirists Category:American novelists Category:Yale University alumni Category:1952 births Category:Living people