The Literature of the Law brings together examples of the very best in judicial pronouncements over four centuries and two continents. Assembled into themes, such as life and death deicisions, freedom of speech and the protection of minorities, they form a fascinating summary of the law's interaction with society. The Literature of the Law also paints an intriguing and sometimes humorous picture of the lawyer's life in and out of court, illustrating with examples some of the different styles of advocacy. The text is stripped of legal references, which might get in the way of the general reader, and is finished with a number of line illustrations of legal London.