The Common Law
The Common Law, published in 1881, is the book that made the reputation of Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., later a justice of the United States Supreme Court. Based on Boston lectures, it opens with the sentence that defined American legal realism: "The life of the law has not been logic: it has been experience." Holmes traces the law of crimes, torts, possession, contracts and succession back through their English and Roman history to show how rules born of vengeance and ritual were reshaped by changing social needs while keeping their old forms. He argues for an external standard of liability based on what a reasonable person would foresee. The book is dense but every generation of American lawyers has read it. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first chapter is free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about The Common Law
The Common Law by Oliver Wendell Holmes can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read The Common Law online?
Yes. The Common Law opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is The Common Law free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Common Law is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is The Common Law in the public domain?
Yes. The Common Law by Oliver Wendell Holmes is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The Common Law?
About 8 h 51 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is The Common Law?
The Common Law by Oliver Wendell Holmes is filed under "Classics" in the Vinteuil library.
