Charles Howard McIlwain Libri

Constitutionalism: Ancient and Modern explores the very roots of liberty by examining the development of modern constitutionalism from its ancient and medieval origins. Derived from a series of lectures delivered by Charles Howard McIlwain at Cornell University in the 1938-39 academic year, these lectures provide a useful introduction to the development of modern constitutional forms. Charles Howard McIlwain won the Pulitzer Prize in 1924 for his constitutional analysis of the American Revolution.

As a facsimile reprint of a scarce antiquarian work, this book preserves the original text while acknowledging potential imperfections from its age, such as marks and notations. It reflects a dedication to cultural preservation and accessibility, ensuring that important literary works remain available in high-quality modern editions. This commitment highlights the significance of maintaining historical literature for future generations.

Highly acclaimed when it was published, this remains a classic. McIlwain developed Pollock and Maitland's thesis from their landmark work The History of English Law Before the Time of Edward I (1895) that Parliament was not a legislature in the modern sense; it was an administrative and judicial instrument of the crown.