Product Description

This book offers students a firm understanding of the central doctrines and the controversies associated with them. Presenting a unique balance of 1/3 text to 2/3 cases and materials, the book can be used both as a stand alone text or as a companion volume to a textbook. Comprehensive coverage is presented in a logical structure that maps closely onto courses and stimulating commentary is delivered through detailed introductions, extract notes and extensive comments within each chapter. Extended extracts illustrate points clearly and promote the essential skills of case-reading, encouraging more detailed analysis of salient points, while analysis of key academic commentaries on issues of controversy, contract clauses etc is also included to provide a well-rounded discussion. Extracts from materials such as the Principles of European Contract Law and the UNIDROIT Principles for International Commercial Contracts are incorporated throughout to provide a useful point of comparison with English Law - encouraging critical reflection upon the state of the English system and illustrating how the law of contract is regarded in other jurisdictions. Specimen clauses are also cited to demonstrate some of the practical problems that confront both businessmen and lawyers, offering students working examples of complex issues. Questions are placed at key points throughout the text to encourage further consideration and reflection of complex or controversial issues, while extensive referencing promotes further research. Written in a familiar and engaging style, this book offers a thought-provoking and well-balanced argument aimed squarely at undergraduates. Online Resource Centre: · Critical summaries · Web-links · Extra cases and materials · Recent updates Test bank: · 150 multiple choice questions with answers and feedback

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #177204 in Books
• Published on: 2005-03-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 1270 pages

About the Author
Ewan McKendrick is Professor of English Private Law at the University of Oxford and a barrister of Gray's Inn, London. He is a widely published author of numerous books and articles in the areas of contract law, commercial law and tort law and is an editor of Chitty on Contracts.

Customer Reviews

The Best Guide to an Understanding of English Law
This book came out shortly before my examination Contract Law at Oxford, and it is nothing short of brilliant. McKendrick's excerpts from cases are comprehensive, and his discussion reflects not only his own opinion, but also that of writers with opposing views. Contrary to other case books, he not only asks questions, but adds a discussion about the advantages and disadvantages of each proposed solution to a problem. While there still is a need to resort to more extensive works (such as Treitel's Law of Contract, or Chitty on Contracts), and obviously cases, for the detailed rules on various sub-questions, this may well be the best introductory guide on the market to a comprehensive understanding of English contract law and its underlying policies. I would regard it a must for any serious student of the subject.

Gathering Dust.........
McKendrick was recommended as the core textbook for contract. However, after only a couple of months of what can only be described as 'laboured' reading I decided to write this review. The book itself is thorough and analyses each subject area in great depth. Coupled with this is a useful case analysis within each topic area. However, the depth and scope comes at a price. This is at times unreadable and extremely unhelpful to anyone wishing to further their understanding of Contract Law, particularly LLB students like myself. Approach with caution!

It makes a great door stop...
This book is NOT reader friendly. I am a third year law undergrad and have to use this book for the second time this year; the other was as a fresher. It was bad enough the first time.

Over 1000 pages of boredom awaits the buyer of this book. Often a required reading book for contract law, it is heavy-going to a point that rivals War and Peace. It actually has a sentence that is 23 lines long! I am a good student, with firsts in many of my modules, but I would still recommend, if you HAVE to have this book, buy an easier contract book to explain things first. Nutshells comes to mind.

On the up side, it does have every single piece of information you will ever need to know for your module!