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William Blackstone: Law and Letters in the Eighteenth Century

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While many are aware of Blackstone's "Commentaries on the Laws of England," details of his life (1723-1780) are harder to come by. The last major biography was published in the 1930's, and it is indeed time for a full-scale modern biography which can benefit from intervening historical research and studies on Blackstone. And who better to undertake this mission than Wilfrid Prest, Emeritus at the University of Adelaide, who edited in 2006 the definitive edition of Blackstone's letters for the Selden Society, and who is one of the leading legal historians of 18th Century England, with a score of fine studies to his credit. Prest has sought to do more than just a biography--rather he seeks to relate Blackstone's life to the "law and letters of the 18th Century." However, be advised that this is a biography of Blackstone, not an analysis of the Commentaries. There are many fine such studies (Boorstin, Duncan Kennedy, e.g.); Prest does discuss some facets of the books, but the man is his principal focus.

Each chapter chronologically covers a period in Blackstone's life. It is interesting to note his rather broad intellectual interests: poetry; the classics; architecture; fine printing; theology; academic reform of Oxford University; and translations. Prest traces his advancement from a classical education at Charterhouse, to Pembroke College at Oxford, a fellowship at All Souls, and admission to the Middle Temple as a barrister. While Prest carefully discusses Blackstone's not overwhelming career at the bar, I found his deep and continuing involvement in reform efforts at Oxford to be more interesting, especially his heroic efforts to salvage the Oxford University Press. Of course in 1758 Blackstone becomes the first Vinerian Professor of Common Law, which adds to his reputation. While not discussing the Commentaries in substance, Prest does sketch the background of how Blackstone came to deliver them first as lectures, then in four published volumes, as well as the reactions to them. Blackstone's other and less-known publications also are discussed.

Blackstone's ultimate ambition was to become a judge; toward this end he did a stint in Parliament and performed other public services. In 1770 he is appointed a judge, serving up with Lord Mansfield in the King's Bench division (interestingly, Prest recounts, Mansfield would not allow the Commentaries to be cited in his court). Prest discusses Blackstone's judicial career, finding him to have been an "exceptionally careful, conscientious, and well-respected judge." The rather stinging criticisms of the young Jeremy Bentham (alleging that Blackstone was "the sworn enemy of reform")and other critics are briefly discussed, as well as the continuing popularity of the Commentaries in England and America. The book runs some 300 pages of text, and includes an exceptional bibliography of original and primary sources, 22 pages of notes, and some wonderful illustrations, many in full color. As usual, Prest's research is nothing less than incredibly comprehensive--he appears to have read everything pertinent. And although his topic is a serious one, his writing style is anything but heavy and dull, it moves along nicely. All told, the wait for a superb Blackstone biography has been worth it with the publication of this fine volume.