William Blackstone: Law and Letters in the Eighteenth Century

About this book

Lawyer judge politician poet teacher and architect William Blackstone was a major figure in eighteenth century public life. Over his varied and brilliant career he made profound contributions to English politics law education and culture through involvements in legal practice Parliament and the University of Oxford. Throughout he also remained engaged in his societys literary and spiritual life. Despite the breadth and influence of his work Blackstone the man remains little known and poorly understood the lack of engagement with his public and private life standing in stark contrast to the scale of his influence particularly on the development and teaching of the law. Blackstones Commentaries on the Laws of England remains the most celebrated and influential text in the Anglo-American common-law tradition. This great book has inevitably overshadowed its author while the dispersal of his personal and professional papers further complicates the task of understanding the man behind the work. The lack of a thorough account of Blackstones life has fuelled controversy surrounding his intellectual background and political views. Was he the deeply reactionary conservative painted by Bentham or rather a committed reformer and early champion of human rights? The present biography makes full use of a considerable body of new evidence that has emerged in recent years to shed light on the life work and times of this neglected figure in English and American history. Exploring Blackstones family upbringing and private life his political activities and ideology his religious outlook and championing of the enlightenment Prest weaves together the threads of an extraordinary mind and career.