As always during its long history, English common law, upon which
American law is based, has had to defend itself against the challenge of
civil law's clarity and traditions. That challenge to our common-law
heritage remains today. To that end, Liberty Fund now makes available a
clear and candid discussion of common law. A Concise History of the
Common Law provides a source for common-law understanding of
individual rights, not in theory only, but protected through the
confusing and messy evolution of courts and their administration as they
struggled to resolve real problems. Plucknett's seminal work is intended
to convey a sense of historical development--not to serve merely as a
work of reference.
The first half of the book is a historical introduction to the study of
law. Plucknett discusses the conditions in political, economic, social,
and religious thought that have contributed to the genesis of law. This
section is a brief but astoundingly full introduction to the study of
law.
The second half of the book consists of chapters introducing the reader
to the history of some of the main divisions of law, such as criminal,
tort, property, contract, and succession. These topics are treated with
careful exposition so that the book will be of interest to those just
embarking on their quest in legal history while still providing enough
substantial information, references, and footnotes to make it meaningful
for the well-versed legal history reader.
Theodore F. T. Plucknett (1897-1965) was an English legal historian.
At twenty-six, he was appointed by Roscoe Pound as professor of legal
history at Harvard Law School.
