Clarifies the thrust of Marshall's jurisprudence while keeping in sight the man as well as the jurist. Argues that Marshall was not an ideologue intent in appropriating the lawmaking powers of Congress, but rather was deeply committed to a principled jurisprudence based on a science of law steeped in the common law tradition. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or. Since 1990, there have been a number of new biographies of Supreme Court justices from Hugo Black to Thurgood Marshall. So it is no surprise that John Marshall, chief justice from 1801 until his death in 1835 and the principal founder of the American system of constitutional law, should receive renewed attention. Certainly, Marshall has not been ignored by historians and biographers. Albert Beveridge's The Life of John Marshall (1916-19) remains the classic, and briefer works, both with the title John Marshall, have been authored by Leonard Baker (1974) and Francis Stite (1981). Hobson, chief editor of "The John Marshall Papers" documentary project at the College of William and Mary since 1979, combines a historian's perspective with experience in document editing. Editing Marshall's papers gave Hobson an appreciation for Marshall's vigorous constitutional vision, which he examines in this judicial biography. Hobson writes of Marshall's jurisprudence in the areas of judicial review, the contract clause, and national supremacy. This excellent work is strongly recommended for academic, law, and larger public libraries.?Jerry E. Stephens, U.S. Court of Appeals Lib., Oklahoma City Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. "In this clear and concise work, Hobson challenges many traditional assumptions about the nation's most famous chief justice. He depicts John Marshall as 'a master of the law' who consciously sought to separate the political from the legal." -- Journal of Southern History "Learned, deft, concise, economical, and, appropriately enough, judicious. A remarkably thoughtful appraisal." -- Jack N. Rakove, Virginia Magazine of History and Biography "This splendid book illuminates the pragmatic and practical side of Marshall's jurisprudence, helping us to understand how this greatest of all American judges separated law from politics without ever losing sight of the importance of constitutional law and jurisprudence for the world of politics."--Kermit L. Hall, author of The Magic Mirror: Law in American History "No student of our legal history, lay or pro-fessional, should miss this book."--Edwin M. Yoder, Jr., Washington Post columnist "A learned, lucid, and insightful work that will be welcomed by a wide audience."--Noble E. Cunningham, Jr., author of The Presidency of James Monroe "Will become the standard work on Marshall."--Robert Allen Rutland, author of James Madison and the American Nation Charles F. Hobson is editor of The Papers of John Marshall at the Institute of Early American History and Culture, College of William and Mary. He has also served as coeditor of The Papers of James Madison and as president of the Association for Documentary Editing. Used Book in Good Condition