Landmarks in the Law

by Baron Alfred Denning

Written in Lord Denning's familiar vivid, staccato style, Landmarks in the Law discusses cases and characters whose names will be known to all readers, grouped together under headings such as High Treason, Freedom of the Press, and Murder. Thus, for example, the chapter on High Treason tells the stories of Sir Walter Raleigh, Sir Roger Casement, and William Joyce--three very different cases, the first occurring nearly 350 years before the last, but each one raising constitutional issues of the greatest importance.

Genres: Law, History, Nonfiction, British Literature, School

412 pages, Paperback

First published October 8, 1984

Reviews

[Oscar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A concise and highly informative view into English Common Law, but maybe an even better view into English culture as it legislates and litigates itself through time.

[Alastair · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an easy to pick up and put down tour through history’s interesting cases. Denning’s style is concise and punchy which makes for a fairly light read and he is pleasantly un-technical or jargon-heavy.

The two things that let the book down: firstly, though probably not too bad by the standards of the time, sections appear very out of date. Some comments about “homosexuals” in particular are skin-crawling backward and make for tough reading. Other similar sections read as rather condescending and paternalistic.

This issue is perhaps excusable for the period the book was written in (perhaps). Less justifiable is the self-serving discussion of the Profumo affair, that Lord Denning conducted an inquiry into. It totally lacks details and just repeats the statement that Denning stands by his report - which let Profumo off without getting at the moral questions in the case at all.

It would have been nice to see Denning cast a critical eye at his report in his twilight years but he stood by his light-touch report, despite at the same time noting that his inquiry turned up “all sorts of indiscretions”. While the rest of the book is quite engaging and refreshingly straight-forwarded delivered, the end makes Lord Denning appear something of an establishment stooge. Which was, ultimately, a shame. I would have come away happier with the book without the discussion of Denning’s most famous case.

[Ilyes · Rating 3 out of 5]

really interesting - introduced me to the existing debates in the law. a bit outdated (since the book was written a while ago) but it’s interesting that a lot of the discussions prevail even at this time.

found the narrative to be very engaging as well

[Nicholas Parsons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating cases. Highly readable and enjoyable in Lord Denning's quaint and highly opinionated writing style.

[Tom Newman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly readable: Landmarks covers a wide range of core legal subjects in a direct and plain way.

[Piajoyevangelistaquiapo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Like it very much

[Tatiana Terekhova · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a very hard read for me, but it was worth it. Invaluable collection of court cases that formed up the Western civilization.

[Zachary · Rating 5 out of 5]

nice law book