I suddenly find myself with some reading time on my hands, and would like to learn a thing or two about the U.S. Constitution and constitutional history.

So, could you learned gentlemen recommend a few good texts beyond the Constitution and the Federalist Papers?

Thanks in advance,

CO

The Antifederalist Papers.


ETA: link

These I have not read, but are available in our university library:

The taxing power : a reference guide to the United States Constitution /  Jensen, Erik M. (2005)

Righteous anger at the wicked states : the meaning of the founders’ Constitution /  
Johnson, Calvin H. (2005)

How progressives rewrote the Constitution /  Epstein, Richard A. (2006) <note: pretty obvious slant, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't read it>

The constitution in exile : how the federal government has seized power by rewriting the supreme law of the land / Napolitano, Andrew P. (2006) <note: same as above>

A companion to the United States Constitution and its amendments /  Vile, John R. (2006)

These I have read (or, in the case of the latter, portions thereof):

Summaries of leading cases on the Constitution / Paul C. Bartholomew, Joseph F. Menez (1990).

Encyclopedia of the American Constitution / edited by Leonard W. Levy and Kenneth L. Karst (2000).  <note: in six volumes>

Thanks, Jake.  I'll look into what's available in the library here in town.  I've become so enamored of cyberspace, I sometimes forget about those big brick buildings full of books. Doh...

No problem.  The above link I gave you for the Antifed Papers is an excellent [electronic] resource.  Here is the [direct] link to their document library:

PatriotPost.us Document Library

Things like the Code of Hammurabi, Articles of Confederation, Constitution (+BoR), Washington's Farewell Address (which contains one of my Top 10 Favorite Quotes), Davy Crockett's "Not Yours To Give."

I also encourage/entreat you to read all the documents in the final section: "Historic Commentary."

Be you well.