by Noah Feldman
First published 2022
Professor Daniel Hartwell stands before his first-year law students at Georgetown, chalking precedents on the blackboard while wrestling with his own doubts about constitutional interpretation. His academic career depends on publishing groundbreaking scholarship, but his research into originalism versus living constitutionalism reveals uncomfortable truths about judicial power and democratic legitimacy. When a controversial Supreme Court case emerges that mirrors his theoretical work, Hartwell must choose between intellectual honesty and professional advancement. His relationships with colleagues fracture as he questions whether the Constitution can truly serve a modern democracy. The novel explores how personal conviction collides with institutional pressure in the world of legal academia.
Genres: american-fiction, contemporary, academic, legal-thriller
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: academic-intrigue, moral-dilemma
Setting: Georgetown
Period: 21st-Century
1897 pages · Hardcover · Foundation Press