Written in the 1930s, Ralph M. Hague's History of the Law in South Australia, 1837-1867 is an indispensable record of South Australia's early legal history. From the founding of the legal profession, the courts and evolving legislation, he reveals the personalities of those who led this pioneering period, characters both noble and ignoble. Hague's extensive research brings life and understanding to a period of history fundamental to the nature of South Australia today. Ralph Meyrick Hague (1907-1997) had a distinguished career in the law in South Australia and was awarded a CBE for his contributions to law and legal learning. As well as writing his own legal histories, he amassed a collection of around 40,000 books.