You thought she was retired. Well, you thought wrong! Proclaim the glad tidings throughout the land: Florence King is back—brazen as ever, sharp as ever, brilliant as ever—and we’ve got her newest essay (trust us: It is fantastic) in the next issue of National Review. That’s the April 24, 2006 edition, which goes to the printer tomorrow, and will be available to all NR/Digital subscribers this Friday afternoon.

The Florence Redux is a pretty darn good incentive for subscribing to NR: get your NR/Digital subscription here, in time for Friday’s big event. Frank Sinatra never came out of retirement so well!

By the way, why not celebrate by getting The Florence King Reader, the big (440-plus pages) acclaimed collection of her “best-of” essays from Reflections in a Jaundiced Eye, Lump It or Leave It, Confessions of a Failed Southern Lady,” and more? It’s yours – FREE! FREE! FREE! – when you buy STET, Damnit!, the rib-tickling, stupidity-whacking complete collection of Miss King’s revered “Misanthrope’s Corner” column (which graced the back page of NR from 1991 through 2002). It’s a royal deal: Two great King books for the price of one (just $29.95, which includes shipping and handling charges!). Order here.