William Blackstone: Law and Letters in the Eighteenth Century
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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 society's 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.Blackstone's '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 Blackstone's 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 Blackstone's 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.
List of Illustrations1 Introduction 12 'A Young Man of Brilliant Parts' (1723-38) 133 'Removed to the University' (1738-43) 284 'Between the University and the Temple' (1744-53) 525 'Advancing the Interests of the College' (1744-53) 756 'The General Benefit of the University at Large' (1750-53) 967 'An Active, Enterprising Genius' (1753-58) 1198 'A More Public Scene' (1758-61) 1519 'Hopes of Advancement' (1761-66) 18310 'A Great and Able Lawyer' (1761-69) 20711 'This Temper of the Times' (1768-70) 23612 'At the Point He Always Wished For' (1770-80) 25913 'Useful and Agreeable' (1770-80) 27614 Conclusion 303Appendices 313Bibliography 317Index 339
