Holmes and Frankfurter: Their Correspondence, 1912-1934 [Hardcover]

Oliver Wendell Holmes (Author), Felix Frankfurter (Author), Robert M. Mennel (Editor), Christine L. Compston (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 1996

The first publication of an extensive correspondence between two of the century's greatest American jurists.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The place of Oliver Wendell Holmes in American legal history has long been assured. Few Supreme Court justices have approached the position occupied by Holmes, his decisions and dissents even passing (albeit often inaccurately) into common discourse: "you can't yell fire in a theatre." His legal decisions and dissents possess a literary tone that sets them apart from other jurists': "Every idea is an incitement.... Eloquence may set fire to reason." (Gitlow v. N.Y.) It should be no surprise then to find Holmes's letters to Felix Frankfurter a pleasure to read. The editors' introduction, annotations, and references make the correspondence of these two great minds accessible to readers and browsers of all sorts.

From Library Journal

Oliver Wendell Holmes has been included on almost every list of the "great" U.S. Supreme Court justices. A Civil War hero with a prominent New England lineage, a noted writer in law and literature, and best known as "The Great Dissenter," Holmes can be credited with defining much of the outline of modern American constitutional law. Felix Frankfurter, while recognized for the brilliance of his legal scholarship, was often considered to be a divisive force on the Court. Yet these two had a long and wonderful friendship that is apparent in this compilation of their correspondence during the years up to 1934, the year before Holmes's death. Some of the correspondence is pedestrian, e.g., an appreciation of a book recommended for vacation reading. Other letters, however, provide real insight into the pressing constitutional and political issues of the day. Mennel (history, Univ. of New Hampshire) and Compston (past director of the National History Education Network) have provided scholars with source material that helps in interpreting the work of the Supreme Court during the first third of this century. The general reader may find that The Essential Holmes (LJ 3/15/92) gives the life and influence of Oliver Wendell Holmes great breadth.
Jerry E. Stephens, U.S. Court of Appeals Lib., Oklahoma City
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 344 pages
• Publisher: New Hampshire; 1st edition (October 15, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0874517583
• ISBN-13: 978-0874517583
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,562,394 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #31 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( H ) > Holmes, Oliver Wendell

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply a superb collection of correspondence, June 6, 2006

By 

Ronald H. Clark (WASHINGTON, DC USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Holmes and Frankfurter: Their Correspondence, 1912-1934 (Hardcover)

This book is comprised of 373 letters [243 by Holmes; 130 by Frankfurter] exchanged between 1912 and 1934. This is an extremely significant period in the lives of the two correspondents, and the letters are highly interesting. The editors have written an invaluable introduction of some 22 pages discussing the letters, their authors, the many efforts to develop a OWH biography, and the migration of Holmes' papers after his death. The letters themselves cover a variety of topics: the judicial role; socialism; the philosophy of judging; legal history; and of course discussion of some very important cases. A number of individuals are mentioned; these comments are among the most revealing insights into the authors. Among others, OWH and FF tackle Charles Beard, Laski, Brandeis, Learned Hand, Pollock, Wigmore, Keynes, John Zane, Hohfeld, W.W. Buckland, Cardozo, Roscoe Pound, Lord Bryce, and various Supreme Court Justices. Holmes' talent for the pithy expression is well in evidence. For example, he refers to the Clayton Act as "legislative humbug. And of course, Holmes being Holmes, there is discussion of many important books and ideas he was encountering. Interestingly, the editors also believe it likely [as do Urofsky and Levy in their edited collection of Brandeis/FF letters also reviewed on Amazon] that FF destroyed a number of his letters to Holmes after the Justice's death. OWH himself had suggested that FF destroy Holmes' letters during the correspondence. Fortunately, for all of us, this is one instruction FF did not (at least) fully execute. As always, Holmes demonstrates flair, humor, insight, and great knowledge in his letters--he is one of our finest contributors of important letters. This 278 page book has a helpful bibliography, and has been nicely printed by University Press of New England. A book of lasting importance beyond question.