TheConstitutionalHistoryofEngland

'Constitutionalhistoryshould,tomymind,beahistorynotofpartiesbutofinstitutions,notofstrugglesbutofresults…'F.W.Maitland'sremarkablecourseoflecturesprovidesthebasicframeworkofEnglishconstitutionalhistoryinabrief,butoriginal,scholarlyandveryreadableform.Hismethodistotakefivecrucialperiodsandtopresentineachapanoramicviewoftheprocessesoflawandgovernment;hisattentionisalwaysfixedontheconstitutionasagrowingfabric,assomethingdevisedandemployedbylivehumanbeings.Andinthiswork,asinallhesubsequentlywrote,Maitlandshowsararecombinationofhighspeculativepowerwithexactknowledgeofdetail.