The Progeny

New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, credited with defining the "central meaning" of the First Amendment, has protected the freedom of expression for the past 50 years. This book focuses on "the progeny" of that decision--examining how Justice Brennan nurtured and developed the constitutional law of defamation and related claims from this important milestone. Told largely from Brennan's perspective, and based on his previously unreported papers and interviews with his biographer, the authors deconstruct the internal machinations that resulted in the historic line of cases that now governs the law of defamation as well as closely related claims such as invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress.