An Introduction to Comparative Law

This book first discusses the nature of Comparative Law, its functions, aims, methods and history, then surveys the main features of the major legal families of the world. Extremely well written, this text outlines all the major legal systems of the world and details individual areas of law within these systems. Its prior edition has been highly regarded world-wide since its publication and was translated into many languages including Italian, Japanese and Russian. This third edition has been updated and contains useful new material including a chapter on Japanese Law. It has been skillfully translated from the German by Tony Weir. A key resource, this text provides the framework for a study of comparative law.

This third edition of the modern classic Zweigert & Kötz's Introduction to Comparative Law is fully revised and updated, but its familiar structure and easy style remain the same. The book first discusses the nature of Comparative Law, its functions, aims, methods and history, and then it surveys the main features of the major legal families of the world. In the second part it provides a model of comparative law in action, comparing, contrasting and evaluating the different approaches and solutions of the major legal systems. As well as offering an excellent grounding in comparative private law, this book is an essential base for further research.

1 - The Concept of Comparative Law
2 - The Functions and Aims of Comparative Law
3 - The Method of Comparative Law
4 - The History of Comparative Law
5 - The Style of Legal Families
6 - The History of French Law
7 - The Spirit and Essential Features of the Code Civil
8 - The Reception of the Code Civil
9 - Courts and Lawyers in France and Italy
10 - The History of German Law
11 - The German Civil Code
12 - The General Civil Code of Austria
13 - The Swiss Civil Code
14 - The Development of the English Common Law
15 - Courts and Lawyers in England
16 - The Spread of the Common Law Throughout the World
17 - The Law of the United States of America
18 - Law-Finding and Procedure in Common Law and Civil Law
19 - Scandinavian Law, Past and Present
20 - Chinese Law
21 - Japanese Law
22 - Islamic Law
23 - Hindu Law
24 - Juristic Act, Contract, and General Conditions of Business
25 - Contractual Capacity
26 - Offer and Acceptance
27 - Illegality and Immorality
28 - Indicia of Seriousness
29 - The Construction of Contracts
30 - Mistake, Deceit, and Duress
31 - Representation
32 - Assignment
33 - Contracts for the Benefit of Third Parties
34 - Claims to Performance and Their Enforcement
35 - Breach of Contract
36 - The Effect of Supervening Events
37 - Unjustified Enrichment in General
38 - Unjustified Enrichment Specific Topics
39 - Tort in General
40 - Liability for others
41 - Strict Liability
42 - Invasions of the Right of Personality

Hein Kötz is Director of the Max-Planck Institute for Foreign and International Private Law in Hamburg, he is also sometime Goodhart Professor of Law at Cambridge University and occasional professor at many Universities, including Chicago and Tel Aviv. Konrad Zweigert is the Late Director of the Max-Planck Institute. Tony Weir is a Fellow of Trinity College and Reader in Law in the University of Cambridge. He has translated a large number of legal texts into English to considerable acclaim.