An Affair with Freedom: A Collection of His Opinions and Speeches Drawn from His First Decade as a United States Supreme Court Justice
New York: Atheneum, 1967.
First edition, first printing. Signed by Justice Brennan on the half-title and inscribed: "To J. Owen Grundy, City Historian of Jersey City, with cordial personal regards. 1/13/76." TLS from Brennan to Grundy tipped to back free endpaper. xv, [1], 384, [1] pp. Bound in publisher's dark blue cloth lettered in gilt, red topstain, red endpapers. Near Fine with light wear to extremities and soiling. In a Near Fine unclipped dust jacket, lightly worn.
J. Owen Grundy was a historian and preservationist who published The History of Jersey City the year Brennan inscribed this book at Grundy's request. Grundy was one of many admirers of the Justice, who was confirmed to the Supreme Court in 1957 and served until his retirement in 1990. Brennan was the influential leader of the Court's liberal wing, an advocate of individual liberties who defended free speech and the rights of women. He was also highly quotable, and his attitude might be summed up with one of his aphorisms: "Law cannot stand aside from the social changes around it."
Price: $2,000