Louis D. Brandeis’s legendary status can be partly attributed to historical context, Melvin Urofsky says in “Louis D. Brandeis: A Life.’’ Boston’s most formidable and accomplished lawyer of the modern era faced tremendous challenge and opportunity. Without both, his enormous achievements might not have been possible. Of course, Urofsky reminds readers of this monumental biography that “the chance must be seized.’’
The same might be said of works of scholarship and writing. As it turns out, the Virginia Commonwealth University professor’s massive biography of arguably the most influential Supreme Court justice since John Marshall comes at an opportune time. A patient reader is left with the sense that lawyers, judges, public servants and, indeed, all citizens today face another period of historic choices. Examining the life of Brandeis, one concludes by the end of this remarkable book, shines essential light on how to balance loyalty to enduring verities with the demands for flexibility in assuring the nation’s future.
