American Epic: Reading the Constitution
New York: Oxford University Press, 2013.
First Edition. Hardcover.
Signed by the author on the title page.
In American Epic, U of O law professor Garrett Epps takes us through a complete reading of the Constitution--even the "boring" parts--to achieve an appreciation of its power and a holistic understanding of what it says. In this book he seeks not to provide a definitive interpretation, but to listen to the language and ponder its meaning. He draws on four modes of reading: scriptural, legal, lyric, and epic. The Constitution's first three words “We the people” for example, sound spiritual--but Epps finds them to be more aspirational than prayer-like. "Prayers are addressed to someone . . . either an earthly king or a divine lord, and great care is taken to name the addressee. . . . This does the reverse. The speaker is 'the people,' the words addressed to the world at large." He turns the Second Amendment into a poem to illuminate its ambiguity. He notices oddities and omissions. The Constitution lays out rules for presidential appointment of officers, for example, but not removal. Should the Senate approve each firing? Can it withdraw its "advice and consent" and force a resignation? These are interesting quandaries in light of recent history. And he challenges himself, as seen in his discussion of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in light of Article 4, which orders states to give "full faith and credit" to the acts of other states.
Wry, original, and surprising, American Epic is a scholarly and literary tour de force.
Item #902164ISBN: 9780199974740
6-3/8 x 8-5/8", black cloth, xxv, 274pp, appendix, notes, index.
As new in dust wrapper and protective mylar.
Price: $40.00