Landmarks in the Law

This book narrates stories of great cases that have changed the course of law in Great Britain. Denning narrates these cases with the ease of a storyteller and at the same time explains how these cases lead to a questioning of law which lead to gradual reforms in law of evidence, abolition of death penalty, changes in attitudes of judges to social issues etc. The cases are sometimes narrated in a naughty tone, sometimes with amusement, sometimes with shame, sometimes with anger - reflecting Lord Denning's moral position as Chief Justice with respect to earlier judges who preceded him - their achievements, their follies, their corruption and their integrity. Denning is a liberal and does not take law as matter-of-fact or given. He believes that law can and was misused and therefore continuous improvement, vigilance and questioning is required. At the same time, he is cautious about his own liberalism - especially because of the way British liberalism spawned trade unionism and international terrorism. This book will delight anyone who wants to understand how present legal principles came into being, and wants to read great and interesting cases that transformed the course of law, not just in Britain, but beyond the shores of Britain as well.