11 months ago

Book Reviews: Amy Coney Barrett and Christopher Marlowe

Book Reviews: Amy Coney Barrett and Christopher Marlowe
Book reviews: ‘Listening to the Law: Reflections on the Court and Constitution’ and ‘Dark Renaissance: The Dangerous Times and Fatal Genius of Shakespeare’s Greatest Rival’ · theweek.com

Two new books are getting attention: one about Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett and another about the Renaissance writer Christopher Marlowe.

Barrett's book discusses her legal ideas and how the court works, trying to explain legal concepts in a way the average person can understand.

Reviewers note she takes a middle ground, emphasizing following the law.

The book about Marlowe explores his life and work as a rival to Shakespeare, looking at his rebellious spirit and potential role as a spy.

Both books offer insights into important historical figures and their impact.

Key facts

Authors Discussed
Amy Coney Barrett, Stephen Greenblatt
Subject
Legal Philosophy, Renaissance Literature
Barrett's Book Title
Listening to the Law: Reflections on the Court and Constitution
Marlowe's Book Title
Dark Renaissance: The Dangerous Times and Fatal Genius of Shakespeare’s Greatest Rival

Quotes

Barton Swaim

in The Wall Street Journal

“My own conclusions from it are, first, that she has a sharp and well-organized mind, and, second, that she is a very nice person.”
theweek.com
“seems genuinely burdened by the reality that most Americans know little about the Supreme Court”
theweek.com

The reviewer

The reviewer

“takes seriously Scalia’s personal aspiration to decide cases purely on the basis of what the law says, not what she thinks it should be.”
theweek.com
“frighteningly modern in his relish for shocking audiences in his portrayals of violence, vice, and religious bigotry”
theweek.com

Noah Feldman

in The Washington Post

“Amy Coney Barrett is the most important justice on the Supreme Court”
theweek.com

Anthony Lane

in The New Yorker

“Christopher Marlowe was, is, and will doubtless remain a troublemaker”
theweek.com

Hamilton Cain

in The Boston Globe

“Greenblatt argues, at best, a circumstantial case for the playwright’s espionage role, yet these speculations season his narrative, lending crucial context”
theweek.com

Heller McAlpin

in The Christian Science Monitor

“Oh, to be a student in one of Greenblatt’s Harvard classes!”
theweek.com

Sources

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