What Can a Lawyer Learn from Literature?

Abstract

Judge Posner's recent book, Law and Literature: A Misunderstood Relation, has already attracted considerable attention and it is likely to attract even more. The author is a well-known judge, famous for his work in law and economics; in this book he takes the bold step of entering a field very different from that in which he established his reputation; and the book itself both reflects a wide range of reading and contains an enormous number of bibliographical references, all in support of its claim, made in the preface, to be the "first to attempt a general survey and evaluation of the field of law and literature" (p. x). As one expects of Judge Posner, he makes his case with great assiduity and skill.

Keywords: book review

JEL Classification: K00