Continuity, Influences and Integration in Scottish Legal History: Select Essays of David Sellar (Edinburgh Studies in Law) - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1474488765 ISBN 13: 9781474488761

Publisher: Edinburgh University Press, 2021

Synopsis

This collection brings together in one volume the principal essays of David Sellar (1941-2019) on Scottish legal history, focused upon the influence of Celtic, Canon, English and customary law in the development of Scots law. It includes a paper written during Sellar's time as Lord Lyon King of Arms (2008-2014) but left unpublished at his death, along with a general introduction by Hector L. MacQueen.Sellar was a pioneering historian of Scots law who rejected previous interpretations of the subject as a series of false starts and rejected experiments. He emphasised instead the continuity of legal development, with change a process of integration of external influences from very early times on. Sellar's approach, articulated mainly through essays published in diverse places over four decades, has had significant influence upon our general understanding of legal history in Scotland as well as leading to appreciation elsewhere of its comparative significance. By gathering the major essays in a single collection, this book demonstrates the scope and reach of Sellar's overall contribution. It provides an opportunity to view Sellar's work as a whole and to access his distinctive perspective on the overall trajectory of Scottish law.

About this title

About the Author

Hector MacQueen has been a member of the Edinburgh Law School since 1979. Appointed to the Chair of Private Law in 1994, he was Dean of the Law School 1999-2003, and Dean of Research and Deputy Head of the College of Humanities and Social Science in the University 2004-2008. He is currently a Scottish Law Commissioner. He is the author of many books and articles on Scots law and its historical development in comparative perspective, and of key textbooks such as The Scottish Legal System (5th edition) (2013), Unjustified Enrichment Law Basics (3rd edition) (2013), and Studying Scots Law 4th edition (2012).

From the Back Cover

Provides unique access to the key elements of David Sellar's pioneering contribution to Scottish legal history This collection brings together in one volume the principal essays of David Sellar (1941-2019) on Scottish legal history, focused upon the influence of Celtic, Canon, English and customary law in the development of Scots law. It includes a paper written during Sellar's time as Lord Lyon King of Arms (2008-2014) but left unpublished at his death, along with a general introduction by Hector L. MacQueen. Sellar was a pioneering historian of Scots law who rejected previous interpretations of the subject as a series of false starts and rejected experiments. He emphasised instead the continuity of legal development, with change a process of integration of external influences from very early times on. Sellar's approach, articulated mainly through essays published in diverse places over four decades, has had significant influence upon our general understanding of legal history in Scotland as well as leading to appreciation elsewhere of its comparative significance. By gathering the major essays in a single collection, this book demonstrates the scope and reach of Sellar's overall contribution. It provides an opportunity to view Sellar's work as a whole and to access his distinctive perspective on the overall trajectory of Scottish law. Hector L. MacQueen is Emeritus Professor of Private Law at the University of Edinburgh.

Edition details

• Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
• Publication date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1474488765
• ISBN 13: 9781474488761
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 408
• Editor: MacQueen Hector L.