Holmes and Frankfurter: Their Correspondence, 1912-1934
The place ofOliver Wendell Holmesin American legal history has long been assured. Few Supreme Court justices have approached the position occupied by Holmes, his decisions and dissents even passing (albeit often inaccurately) into common discourse: "you can't yell fire in a theatre." His legal decisions and dissents possess a literary tone that sets them apart from other jurists': "Every idea is an incitement.... Eloquence may set fire to reason." (Gitlow v. N.Y.) It should be no surprise then to find Holmes's letters toFelix Frankfurtera pleasure to read. The editors' introduction, annotations, and references make the correspondence of these two great minds accessible to readers and browsers of all sorts.