Imagining the Law: Common Law and the Foundations of the American Legal System

by Norman F. Cantor

Book Overview

National Book Critics Circle Award finalist Norman Cantor provides an accessible and thoroughly researched look at how our current legal system, from the jury trial to the rule of law, was... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060171944
• ISBN13: 9780060171940
• Release Date: January 1997
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.5" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

A good read for many reasons

Excellent writing from Cantor (as usual). Incisive, informative and even life changing. Why? If you have ever wondered why our culture behaves as it does, this book may give you some clues. It is a book that gets at the very core of our social foundations and explains in many ways who we are as Americans, descendants of the Brits, brothers in the Common Law system. One you will want to read and, read again. Get a copy. I purchased a library cast off (good grief!) in hardback for 3.00. A gem. Law students: do not miss this one. You will have one up on your class mates.

Great examination of English & American common law

This is one of those rare history books that doesn't read like one. And given the subject matter that is a great accomplishment. This book gives both a broad survey of Anglo-American jurisprudence and insightful comparisons with the Roman law traditions of the rest of Europe. And without being partisan it highlights the good and bad aspects of America's legal tradition. I have a background in the subject, yet enjoyed this book as much as the other reviewers.

Imaging the Law

This is such a well written book. Great for a beginner like myself. It was actually very entertaining and funny at times.

A good read!

A fascinating introduction to what I once considered a dull subject. Cantor presents an engaging and sometimes humorous look at the social, economic, cultural and religious background to English common law. I hope the paperback version includes a glossary and chronology.