THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN is a classic study of law and social work in action. It is based on the most extensive investigation of child abuse and neglect ever carried out in Great Britain. The authors followed the course of numerous cases from the first detection of ill-treatment to the resolution (or otherwise) of the problem. Famous for coining the much-used (and often misused or misunderstood) phrase "the rule of optimism," this book is updated with an extensive Postscript from 1995 and a new, 2014 Preface that explains the uneven history of the optimism principle in both the UK and US - and in both social work practice and sociological scholarship. The authors are experts in sociology, law, and social work in the field, and they bring their unique perspectives and experiences to this recognized and insightful project.