Sources & reuse
The classic essays collected here are public-domain texts, presented with their original authors’ names. The introductory reading notes and the editor’s critiques are newly written commentary, separate from the historical texts.
Francis Bacon (1561–1626)
“Of Truth”, “Of Studies”, “Of Revenge”, “Of Great Place”, “Of Friendship”, “Of Riches”, “Of Ambition”, “Of Custom and Education” come from The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral. Source transcription: Project Gutenberg, ebook 575, produced by Judith Boss and David Widger.
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894)
“An Apology for Idlers”, “El Dorado”, “Crabbed Age and Youth”, “Æs Triplex”, “Child’s Play”, “Walking Tours”, “A Plea for Gas Lamps” come from Virginibus Puerisque, and Other Papers. Source transcription: Project Gutenberg, ebook 386, transcribed by David Price from the 1897 Chatto & Windus edition.
Why these texts can be republished
Both source editions are listed as public domain in the United States. Both authors also died more than 70 years ago, beyond the usual UK copyright term for written works. These selections reproduce the original English essays, without a modern translation or a modern editor’s introduction.
References: UK copyright duration and Project Gutenberg permissions and source-credit guidance. Copyright rules differ between countries; this status assessment covers the UK and USA.
Editorial treatment
The complete essay texts retain their source wording. Typography and paragraph presentation have been adapted to this website. Reading notes and editor’s critiques are labelled separately and are not attributed to Bacon or Stevenson. Historical opinions and language belong to the original authors.
Source references identify the transcriptions used and do not imply sponsorship or endorsement. The public-domain status applies to the historical essay texts; third-party websites have their own terms.
Sources checked and collection added: 10 September 2026.
Supreme Court archive series
Original case essays draw on Supreme Court opinions published in United States Reports and preserved by the Library of Congress. The essays summarise the decisions in original language; the reflections are editorial commentary. Each case page includes its report citation, printed-page reference, and a direct link to the official scan.
- Marbury v. Madison, 5 U.S. (1 Cranch) 137 (1803) — PDF
- McCulloch v. Maryland, 17 U.S. (4 Wheat.) 316 (1819) — PDF
- Dred Scott v. Sandford, 60 U.S. (19 How.) 393 (1857) — PDF
- Plessy v. Ferguson, 163 U.S. 537 (1896) — PDF
- West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943) — PDF
- Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer, 343 U.S. 579 (1952) — PDF
- Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954) — PDF
- Mapp v. Ohio, 367 U.S. 643 (1961) — PDF
- Baker v. Carr, 369 U.S. 186 (1962) — PDF
- Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335 (1963) — PDF
- New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254 (1964) — PDF
- Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 U.S. 479 (1965) — PDF
- Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966) — PDF
- Loving v. Virginia, 388 U.S. 1 (1967) — PDF
- Brandenburg v. Ohio, 395 U.S. 444 (1969) — PDF
- Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, 393 U.S. 503 (1969) — PDF
- New York Times Co. v. United States, 403 U.S. 713 (1971) — PDF
- United States v. Nixon, 418 U.S. 683 (1974) — PDF
- Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397 (1989) — PDF
- Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644 (2015) — PDF
Literature summaries
Original summaries, personal critiques, and reading notes are provided in the Literature category. Each names the original author and links to a book reference or an available edition. The selection is editorial rather than a ranked list. Plot summaries contain spoilers; they are not reproduced extracts from the books.
View the Literature collection and its individual references
Landmark judgments in England
Original case articles draw on judgments preserved by The National Archives and official Supreme Court case materials. Personal reflections are editorial commentary.
- R (UNISON) v Lord Chancellor — [2017] UKSC 51
- R (Miller) v Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union — [2017] UKSC 5
- R (Miller) v The Prime Minister; Cherry v Advocate General for Scotland — [2019] UKSC 41
- R (Evans) v Attorney General — [2015] UKSC 21
- R (Privacy International) v Investigatory Powers Tribunal — [2019] UKSC 22
- Osborn v Parole Board — [2013] UKSC 61
- Aintree University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust v James — [2013] UKSC 67
- R v Jogee — [2016] UKSC 8
- Patel v Mirza — [2016] UKSC 42
- Fearn v Board of Trustees of the Tate Gallery — [2023] UKSC 4