A History Of The Criminal Law Of England

Published in the summer of 1863, A General View of the Criminal Law is a highly original account of the fundamental nature, substance and functioning of the criminal law in mid-Victorian England. Written with the assurance and facility of one whose active interests extended well beyond the law into politics, literature, philosophy, and religion, Fitzjames Stephen's General View has three broad objectives: to expose the workings of the institution of criminal law to the scrutiny of both lawyers and non-lawyers; to locate the criminal law in its appropriate political and social context; and to elevate the study of criminal law to a level which would qualify it to be "an interesting part of a liberal education" - in effect, for it to be recognised as one of the emerging social sciences. While in general holding to the book's expressed aims and seeking to offer a balanced analysis, in the many contentious areas of the criminal law examined there is rarely much doubt about Stephen's own position. Characteristically, as in his earlier and later works, in the General View analytical acuity operates in combination with an emphatic - frequently no holds barred - polemical style of argument. Although often fiercely critical of certain procedural and substantive elements of England's criminal law, ultimately Stephen viewed its core features as a worthy source of national pride.

"An ideal introduction to the rich history of criminal justice charting all its main developments from the dooms of Anglo-Saxon times to the rise of the Common Law, struggles for political, legislative and judicial ascendency and the formation of the innovative Criminal Justice System of today."-back cover.

An account of changing conceptions and treatments of criminality in Victorian and Edwardian Britain.

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

Integrating legal history with the traditional history of the Middle Ages, this classic book meticulously traces early criminal procedure, its development on the Continent, and its imposition on the conquered kingdom of Anglo-Saxon England in the centuries that followed the Norman Conquest.