Sir William Blackstone (1723–80) wrote the most famous and influential treatise on Anglo-American-Australian common law—the four volume Commentaries on the Laws of England (1765–69)—but he was also a major figure in 18th century public, academic and cultural life.

Blackstone’s biographer, Emeritus Professor Wilfrid Prest, investigates this influential legal writer in his diverse roles as academic, bibliophile, architect, historian, reformer, critic, poet and politician through the lens of 18th century political, legal and cultural life.

Emeritus Professor Wilfrid Prest has published widely on Sir William Blackstone’s life and works. He studied for his Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Melbourne, took a doctorate in Modern History from Oxford and came to Adelaide as a lecturer in the Department of History in 1966.

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