The Making of the Modern Law of Defamation

Description

The modern law of defamation is frequently criticised for being outdated, obscure and even incomprehensible. The Making of the Modern Law of Defamation explains how and why the law has come to be as it is by offering an historical analysis of its development from the seventeenth century to the present day. Whilst the primary focus of the book is the law of England, it also makes extensive use of comparative common law materials from jurisdictions such as Australia, South Africa, the United States and Scotland. This book will be essential reading for anyone interested in the law of defamation, in media law and in the relationship between free speech and the law.

Paul Mitchell is a Senior Lecturer in Law at King's College London.

The Making of the Modern Law of Defamation is an excellent piece of work and a welcome addition to the literature dealing with the history of defamation law. It is a scholarly, yet highly readable, monograph...The book is characterised by painstaking research, erudite analysis and a clarity of expression and structure that makes it a joy to read...this book is thoroughly researched, beautifully written and contains a wealth of material to delight the defamation aficionado. It is worthy of a place on any defamation bookshelf. -- Michael Gillooly * Torts Law Journal No 3 * The most striking features of this book are its conciseness and preciseness...a rich source of references to many important and some less widely known academic works on the history of defamation law -- Marie McGonagle * The Irish Jurist, Vol XL * ...a very well-written and interesting book. It deserves to be read as a whole, and there are thought-provoking arguments throughout...For the tort of defamation, there can be no excuses for such historical ignorance, with the advent of Paul Mitchell's fine book. Every serious student of the law of torts should read it. -- Jonathan Morgan * The Law Quarterly Review, Vol 122 * ...provides considerable food for thought as to the appropriate classification of the law of defamation...this is an excellent book that anyone interested in the modern law of defamation should read. -- Mark Lunney * The King's College Law Journal, Vol 17, Issue 1 * ...a fascinating account...the case reports he considers provide a wealth of historical curiosity...a succinct and useful study of one of the most venerable parts of the common law. The scope of the book is considerable...valuable to both practitioners and academics who seek a deeper understanding... -- John Townsend * Common Law World Review * As the complexity of defamation law grows, the space devoted in most textbooks to an analysis of its historical origins has been shrinking. It is a welcome relief, therefore, to a see a book devoted to just such an analysis...this is an eminently readable book. * The Commonwealth Lawyer, Vol 14, No 3 * [Mitchell] demonstrates convincingly how the law lost the internal coherence it possessed in the early 1800's, and does an excellent job of explaining its current oddities and anomalies... -- J. Townsend * European Tort Law 2005 (Tort and Insurance Law Yearbook) *