Publisher's Synopsis
This unique two volume work illuminates the history of law and society and some of the major contemporary approaches to the writing of those histories. The contributions reflect the important topics and questions, and the choices in subject-matter and methodology, that increasingly characterise ôôôôthe new legal historyö. The editorÆs Introduction indicates the larger context of the selected articles, and makes extensive reference to important works not included in the anthology. - - Volume One addresses: - ò law and society in pre-industrial England - ò theory and politics in American legal history - ò the new history of criminal justice - ò new directions in the writing of ôôôôlaw and societyö histories - - Volume Two considers: - ò law, history and the construction of national identity - ò lawyers, courts and the cultural significance of legal institutions - ò law and popular culture - ò gender and the law - ò law and society - - The chronological and geographical sweep of this collection is exceptionally wide. It considers criminal and civil law, legislation, custom, Roman law, church law, the legal profession, the culture and rituals of the courtroom, and the nature of legal thought. Also included are assessments of leading figures such as Maitland, Macfarlane, Hurst, Thompson, Friedman, Langbein, Horwitz and Hay.
