Many people presumed the late Justice Antonin Scalia to be gruff and irascible by nature. But those who knew him as "Nino" saw him much differently: he was known for his warmth, charm, devotion, fierce intelligence, loyalty, and extraordinary gusto. In Nino and Me: An Intimate Portrait of Scalia's Last Years, Bryan A. Garner, one of the world's most prominent lexicographers and legal scholars, offers access to the Antonin Scalia that few knew. Instigated by the celebrated writer David Foster Wallace, Garner's friendship with fellow snoot Scalia grew from their shared love of the English language. Despite their differing viewpoints on everything from gun control to using contractions, their relationship flourished. What began as a simple request for an interview evolved into a close friendship, with Scalia even taking three days from his summer vacation to officiate at Garner's wedding. Together, Scalia and Garner wrote two substantial books with an assiduous intensity that enabled them to overcome seemingly insuperable obstacles, including an early misunderstanding that seriously threatened their collaboration.

In this humorous and touching memoir, Garner gives a firsthand portrayal of the mind, habits, and faith of the most famous but perhaps most misunderstood judge of our time. Book jacket.