Born in Ireland in 1879, W.P.M. Kennedy was a distinguished Canadian academic and the leading Canadian constitutional law scholar for much of the twentieth century. Despite his trailblazing career and intriguing personal life, Kennedy’s story is largely a mystery. Weaving together a number of key events, Martin L. Friedland’s lively biography discusses Kennedy’s contributions as a legal and interdisciplinary scholar, his work at the University of Toronto where he founded the Faculty of Law, as well as his personal life, detailing stories about his family and important friends, such as Prime Minister Mackenzie King.

Kennedy earned a reputation in some circles for being something of a scoundrel, and Friedland does not shy away from addressing Kennedy’s exaggerated involvement in drafting the Irish constitution, his relationships with female students, and his quest for recognition. Throughout the biography, Friedland interjects with his own personal narratives surrounding his interactions with the Kennedy family, and how he came to acquire the private letters noted in the book. The result is a readable, accessible biography of an important figure in the history of Canadian intellectual life.

Martin L. Friedland is University Professor and Professor of Law Emeritus at The University of Toronto.  He was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1990, and was awarded the Molson Prize in 1995.

Martin L. Friedland's profile page

“[F]ascinating new biography… Friedland’s biography provides a meticulously researched evaluation of a man keen to obscure and rewrite his own past. Despite these challenges, Friedland succeeds in providing a vivid portrait of WPM Kennedy that places him in the context of his wider contribution to Canadian society.”

<em>Dublin University Law Journal</em>

“[M]asterful biography…Friedland deftly weaves an account of Kennedy’s complex life with great insight and scholarship.”

<em>Canada’s History</em>

“W.P.M. Kennedy is one of the most important Canadian legal figures that most Canadian legal academics have not heard of…Friedland deploys all his experience, ingenuity, and investigative skills to complete his ‘search for truth about the life of W.P.M. Kennedy.’”

<em>American Journal of Comparative Law</em>

“The book is skillfully written and very accessible. In fact, it is a real page turner in places….”

<em>Maritime Institute for Civil Society</em>