Commentaries On The Constitution Of The United States: With A Preliminary Review Of The Constitutional History Of The Colonies And States, Before The ... Constitution : In Two Volumes (2 Volume Set)

Reprint of the second edition, with additions by his son W.W. Story [1819-1895]. Originally published: Boston, Little, Brown and Company, 1851. First published in 1833, this work is generally considered to be the most important work written on the American Constitution. Dedicated to John Marshall, it presented a strongly Federalist interpretation. It is divided into three books. Book I contains a history of the colonies and discussion of their charters. Book II discusses the Continental Congress and analyzes the flaws that crippled the Articles of Confederation. Book III begins with a history of the Constitution and its ratification. This is followed by a brilliant line-by-line exposition of each of its articles and amendments. Comparing it to The Federalist, James Kent said that Story's work was "written in the same free and liberal spirit, with equal exactness and soundness of doctrine, and with great beauty and eloquence of composition.... Whoever seeks...a complete history and exposition of this branch of our jurisprudence, will have recourse to [this] work, which is written with great candor, and characterized by extended research, and a careful examination of the vital principles upon which our government reposes.": cited in Marvin, Legal Bibliography (1847) 669-670.