EBOOK William Blackstone:Law and Letters in the Eighteenth Century

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 remainslittle        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 reactionaryconservative 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, this book weaves together the threads of an extraordinary mind        and career.