“The political and constitutional genius of the Early Republic, while often neglected and misunderstood, provides contemporary Americans with a tremendous guide to appreciating the nature of politics and the law. Among the defenders of a strong, national government, no other American jurist, with the possible exception of John Marshall, defended the national theory of politics and constitutionalism with as much energy or ability as Joseph Story. Thanks to Dr. Clark’s new tome, the thoughtful reader can now better understand the vital importance of Joseph Story to the national theory of American government and constitutionalism. Following in the great tradition of scholarship on Story established by James McClellan and Kent Newmyer, Clark provides an exceedingly balanced and erudite of study of Story, and Clark, for the first time, lucidly and convincingly compares Story with his critics, including Jefferson, Tucker, Calhoun, and Upshur. This book fills a critical lacuna in scholarship and deserves a wide readership.”

H. Lee Cheek Jr., East Georgia State College