Frederick Pollock And The English Juristic Tradition (Oxford Studies in Modern Legal History)

Rating:
Summary: Frederick Pollock Gets his Due at Long Last
Review: It is shameful to recognize that there never has been either in this country or the UK any sustained examination of the innumerable contributions of Frederick Pollock (1845-1937) to English law and jurisprudence generally. This superb (and extremely expensive) volume by Professor Duxbury at long last corrects that deficiency. Too often, Pollock has been seen as a "junior partner" to more prominent figures, such as F.W. Maitland (in their invaluable "History of English Law") and Holmes (in their published correspondence). At last the focus here is on Pollock alone--the wait almost has been worth it.

This is not a full-scale biography of Pollock, such as Nicola Lacey's recently-published definitive life of H.L.A. Hart--rather the book concentrates on Pollock's substantive activities with one early chapter ("FP") devoted to biographical background. The research undertaken by Duxbury is simply amazing; he apparently has read everything that Pollock wrote (an incredible amount) and virtually all material written about him by others. For once, Oxford University Press has consented to placing the notes at the foot of each page, which is of tremendous assistance to the reader. Nonetheless, the narrative flows smoothy and engrosses the reader.

Duxbury is careful to study Pollock within the "English Juristic Tradition," and so one learns a great deal about English jurisprudence as a valuable background to the discussion. For example, there are highly incisive insights offered on the long-term impact of John Austin and his analytical approach upon English jurisprudence. Separate chapters address Pollock's views on the "sanctification of the common law," Pollock's substantive texual writings on English contract and tort law over many decades, as well as the enormous influence he exerted as editor of the English Law Report and the "Law Quarterly Review." All of this material is covered in around 320 or so pages, making for a convenient treatment. Simply put, for anyone interested in English law, jurisprudence, and the development of "our lady the common law," this book is an absolute necessity.