Summary of The Common Law Tradition

The Common Law Tradition: A collective biography of five legal icons, by John Phillip Reid, looks at the history of common law in England and the United States from the 12th century to the present day. Through the biographies of five lawyers and jurists—Sir Edward Coke, Thomas Jefferson, Baron Thomas de Grey, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., and Lord Denning—it sheds light on the origin, evolution, and application of common law principles. The book highlights the unique contributions of these five individuals and offers insight into their persistent influence on the development of the common law. It also examines the impact of the Industrial Revolution, urbanization, and legal education on changes in legal reasoning and sets various aspects of the common law into historical context. The Common Law Tradition offers a compelling, comprehensive look at how the modern legal systems of both England and the United States evolved out of the medieval common law tradition.