Law, Its Origin, Growth and Function : Being a Course of Lectures Prepared for Delivery Before the Law School of Harvard University

This book offers a compelling exploration into the complex world of jurisprudence, focusing on the historical and controversial attempt to codify common law in New York by David Dudley Field. Through an engaging narrative, the author delves deep into the opposition led by a prominent member of the New York Bar against this ambitious legislative effort. The text examines the distinctions between written and unwritten law, challenging widely accepted conceptions and inviting readers to rethink the foundational theories of jurisprudence.

Positioned within a broader legal and historical context, the work sheds light on the intellectual audacity of past legal reformers like Jeremy Bentham and their impact on modern legal thought.

It raises critical questions about the nature, scope, and authority of lawboth written and unwrittenand critiques established definitions and theories in an insightful manner.

Themes of legal reform, intellectual challenge, and the pursuit of understanding form the core of this book. It includes a series of lectures delivered at Harvard University Law School alongside earlier pamphlets and addresses that collectively provide a nuanced perspective on law's evolving landscape.

In conclusion, this book encapsulates significant insights into the ongoing debate over codification versus common law traditionsa must-read for those interested in legal history, theory, and reform. Its thoughtful examination offers readers a unique window into past struggles that continue to resonate with contemporary discussions around legal practice and its future direction.