This book sketches the history of Roman Private Law from the Twelve Tables to modern times, and sets out the elements of the system. It does not attempt to summarize the whole law, but explains and evaluates its most characteristic and influential features.

Lawyers everywhere, but especially those within the European Community, are becoming increasingly aware of the need for an understanding of each other's legal systems. This is particularly true of commercial law, of which the law of contract is the foundation. Written primarily for lawyers and law students in the Common law world, this book explains the principles of the French law of contract and compares them with those of other European legal systems. This second edition, which assumes no prior knowledge of French law, is written from the standpoint of a common lawyer familiar with the problems which the law of contract deals with in a modern Western society. Commencing with an introductory account of the characteristics of French law - the most influencial of the Civil law systems - and the French legal system, it explains the principles of the French law of contract and shows how they differ from those of English law. Consideration is given to recent developments in the obligation to disclose information, third party rights in "groups of contract", unfair contract terms, and the seller's liability for latent defects.

Jolowicz's classic work traces the development of Roman Law historically from the earliest times until the age of Justinian. Private Law is treated at some length for the republican period, but for imperial times the emphasis is on constitutional law and the sources of law, together with the procedure and structure of the judicial system. There are also chapters on social conditions and on the general characteristics of classical and post-classical law.