Oxford's variorum edition of William Blackstone's seminal treatise on the common law of England and Wales offers the definitive account of the Commentaries' development in a modern format. For the first time it is possible to trace the evolution of English law and Blackstone's thought through the eight editions of Blackstone's lifetime, and the authorial corrections of the posthumous ninth edition. Introductions by the general editor and the volume editors set the Commentaries in their historical context, examining Blackstone's distinctive view of the common law, and editorial notes throughout the four volumes assist the modern reader in understanding this key text in the Anglo-American common law tradition. In the final volume of the Commentaries Blackstone presents a comprehensive and critical overview of English criminal law and procedure, prefaced by a discussion of the philosophical and basis of the criminal justice system. His final chapter 'On the Rise, Progress, and Gradual Improvements, of the Laws of England' provides a fitting historical conclusion to the work as a whole.
Ruth Paley: Editor's Introduction Wilfrid Prest: Editorial Conventions Book the Fourth: Of Public Wrongs I: Of the Nature of Crimes; and their Punishment II: Of the Persons Capable of Committing Crimes III: Of Principles and Accessories IV: Of Offences Against God and Religion V: Of Offences Against the Law of Nations VI: Of High Treason VII: Of Felonies, Injurous to the King's Prerogative VIII: Of Praemunire IX: Of Misprisions and Contempts, Affecting the King and Government X: Of Offences Against Public Justice XI: Of Offences Against the Public Peace XII: Of Offences Against Public Trade XIII: Of Offences Against the Public Health, and the Public Police or Oeconomy XIV: Of Homicide XV: Of Offences Against the Persons of Individuals XVI: Of Offences Against the Habitations of Individuals XVII: Of Offences Against Private Property XVIII: Of the Means of Preventing Offences XIX: Of Courts of a Criminal Jurisdiction XX: Of Summary Convictions XXI: Of Arrests XXII: Of Commitment and Bail XXIII: Of the Several Modes of Prosecution XXIV: Of Process upon an Indictment XXV: Of Arraignment, and it's Incidents XXVI: Of Plea, and Issue XXVII: Of Trial, and Convinction XXVIII: Of the Benefit of Clergy XXIX: Of Judgement, and it's Consequences XXX: Of Reversal of Judgement XXXI: Of Reprieve, and Pardon XXXII: Of Execution XXXIII: Of the Rise, Progress, and Gradual Improvement, of the Laws of England Appendix
Ruth Paley is an Editor at the History of Parliament Trust, focusing on the House of Lords from 1660-1832.
Reviews for The Oxford Edition of Blackstone: Commentaries on the Laws of England: Book 4 of Public Wrongs
Blackstone's Commentaries remain a central source for understanding both historical and modern Anglo-American law - as well as many debates in Anglo-American legal philosophy - and Oxford University Press's new edition of the Commentaries offers a valuable resource for studying them. * Brian Bix, Frederick W. Thomas Professor of Law and Philosophy, Jotwell *
