The Common Law

The Common Law is a book written by Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., originally published in 1881. It is a collection of essays that explore the development of the common law legal system in England and the United States. The book covers a wide range of topics, including the origins of the common law, the role of judges in interpreting the law, the relationship between law and morality, and the evolution of legal concepts such as negligence and contract law. Holmes' writing is characterized by its clarity and incisiveness, as well as his ability to link legal theory with practical application. The Common Law is widely regarded as one of the most important works on legal theory and has had a profound influence on the development of American jurisprudence.1881. Underneath the enormous structure of codes, acts and laws to which each generation adds another story lies the cornerstone of the common law. It is not of itself a law nor yet a code of laws. Lawyers cannot refer to it by chapter and verse. It comprises the fundamental ideas, the philosophy of law. As such it has long attracted the thoughtful layman in the same way that he is attracted to the philosophy of religion or ethics or any other fundamental ideas of civilization. The Common Law by Holmes is probably the most famous exposition of this subject. The book was developed from a series of Lowell lectures addressed to a lay audience. It may well be unique among famous law books in that it was not written specifically for lawyers. In one other respect it is unusual. It has never been revised in the more than seventy-five years of its existence. The common law is one thing that has changed little from one generation to the next. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.