Useful

A good book, with helpful information. Well written and easy to understand. Definitely recommend it for those in need of a little help in a very confusing field.

A clear, focused and pertinent guide

Fantastic! This is a really useful, easy to read guide for all us British expats who are trying to settle into a new life here in Spain. I really found that Mr King's book provided us with invaluable information on many aspects of life here, we have picked it up time and time again. I can't imagine trying to deal with the scary spanish law without it.

Very clear and easy to follow

I'm really impressed that someone has taken such a daunting and legal subject and managed to explain it in a way that anyone can understand. Whether you're writing your own will, or sorting out the affairs of someone else, I don't think you could find a clearer book on the subject.

A good place to start thinking about law

This book is an excellent way to get a taste for what it is like to study law at degree level. It tackles all seven core subject areas giving the reader a good introduction and case study to see how that aspect of law functions. Some of the book is a little exhaustive, however you should reassure yourself that all will become clear in the classroom. <br /><br />A good place to start for all prospective law students.

Slim but powerful Introduction

This excellent introduction to the Roman Empire is succinct and selective rather than superficial. Its compass ranges from the iconography of the Imperial cult to contemporary perceptions of Rome in the cinema.<br /><br />Far from being a conventional, political history centred on the Roman elite, Kelly is most impressive when trying to recreate the ordinary lives of the silent and all but invisible majority, who have left no historical trace and only the faintest of impressions in the archaeological record. He is especially interesting and perceptive when writing about elusive topics like population studies within the Empire. Hard evidence on such matters is, naturally, very scant. Kelly uses statistical models and contemporary demographic studies of the developing world to reach his conclusions, some of which are startling - for example, the life expectancy at birth for emperors who died from natural causes between the 1st and 7th centuries: 26.3 years (no greater, therefore, than the life expectancy of people in much poorer and less privileged social groups).<br /><br />This slim volume manages to be authoritative, concise and thought-provoking. Anyone wanting to follow up some of the issues raised, meanwhile, can make good use of its extensive bibliography.

The courts where some are more equal than others before the law

The most elementary principle of justice in a democracy is that all are held to be equal in the eyes of the law. On the evidence of this book it is now abundantly clear that a father, far from being equal in disputes over access to his children, is held to be of no account in the secret family courts. He is liable to be dispossessed of all contact with his children at will by his former wife or partner on a whim or as part of a family feud. Mark Harris' one mistake was to marry into a family of vindictive sociopaths who forcibly abducted his wife and children and smashed up the family home. That he stayed in touch with those children and stuck it out through truly Kafkaesque abuse of legal process by the secret family courts and their corrupt mendacious judges, counsel and so called experts for 10 years, until the passage of time allowed his children to make their own choice, is a tribute to human endurance on a parallel with any other I have read about. The lengths the authorities went to in smearing and crushing the harmless organised protests that fathers in similar situations put on, show what kind of state we live in. This book is also a wake up call to defenders of civil liberties, people with whom I normally do not have much sympathy. It turns out that even the alleged plot to kidnap Leo Blair was probably put about by the security services. Was the so called desecration at Stonehenge a matter for grave disquiet? Not really; it was an imaginative publicity stunt and did no damage to the monument. Until the family courts are brought out into the light of day and scrutinised properly, the grave miscarriages of justice described in this book will continue. It used to be said that an Englishman's home was his castle until his wife decided to take it away from him. To that can now be added that his children are his own until the lady decides to remove them with the backing of the courts and legal establishment.

a thundering good read

This is the definitive account of the longest trial in American legal history. Four persons: Charles Manson, Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel and Leslie Van Houten, are sentenced to death for the murders of Sharon Tate, Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger, Voytek Frykowski, Stephen Parent, Leno La Bianca and Rosemary La Bianca. The crimes, collectively known as the Tate/La Bianca murders took place in Los Angeles in August 1969. Vincent Bugliosi's work is both focussed and orderly and he scores highly in bringing a convoluted and at times incompetent enquiry to the reader in a totally believable account. Stretching to 664 pages, some might consider the work too long winded but the story certainly licks along at a good pace. The lion's share of the time is given over to a day by day, blow by blow account detailing the court proceedings. These accounts are so good that in places you can believe yourself to be in the public gallery and can feel the tension and horror as this macabre tale unfolds.
The crimes, which rocked America in the late 60's and early 70's, are truly horrific. Bugliosi does not shy away from revealing the cold, callous and detached nature of each defendant; none of whom show the slightest remorse for their barbaric actions. Neither too are we sheltered from the abundant stabbings, shootings, hangings, and mutilations. There are ample official statements, legal examinations, cross-examinations and personal conversations to satisfy even the most curious. The reader's inclusion 'in the court' so to speak, might for some readers prove too much, but by a combination of thoroughness, attention to detail and style the author takes us into the bizarre world of Charles Manson.
He is a 'wannabe' but unsuccessful musician, drug user and, for more than half of his life, a frequenter of numerous penitentiaries. He is the self-styled guru of 'The Family' where most of the members are young, impressionable runaways. Lost, lonely and anti-establishment they, by numerous avenues end up at Manson's door. Most are female, most claim to be in love with Manson, most claim he possesses special power or is the embodiment of Christ or Satan (terms Manson uses of himself). The late 60's mix of sex, free love and drugs are used to full effect and, more often than not, the girls are used to attract new recruits. In turn, through a dangerous cocktail of charisma, fear and violence, added to delusionary interpretations brought on by 'hidden' meaning in a number of the Beatles songs, Manson creates a dependency upon himself and his words. In short - he controls their thoughts, actions and lives, but as Bugliosi shows they are willing participants in this 'game'.
Crucial to the prosecution's case is the motive for the murders - Helter Skelter. Through his interpretation of the Beatles lyrics, his predisposition to violence, his anti-establishment and racism, Manson attempts to kick-start a race war in America. To realise this goal, white 'pigs', as he calls them, must be sacrificed. The culmination of this 'Armageddon' will ultimately benefit Manson and the 'Family' as they will assume control over the reins of power and government. The killings are random and brutal and, in spite of the bizarre nature of the motive, Bugliosi brings the full horror of this tragic episode in American history to the reader in a cogent, believable and professional manner.
If the book has a down side it would be that the real comparisons between Charles Manson and Adolf Hitler are pretty tenuous, Bugliosi's frequent portrayal of himself in the, 'I'm always right' camp, gets a bit irritating and the use of aliases with some of the main players in the 'Family' can get confusing at times. That said, for any true crime buffs out there who like their reading material to be a real mix of the gruesome and the legal, this book is a must.

Thank you

At last a revision guide that tells you what to do as well as what the law is. It's not exam time yet, but I'm using this already for seminars. It makes getting through all the material so much easier - since Land is SOOO dull. The others in the series are just as good. I'm doing ELP, Crime and Land this year - so I've bought the Law Expresses for those too. I'll be getting contract and tort next year.

Turgid, wooden, overblown and tortous..but nugget-ridden

There is no doubt that the author has an immense depth of knowledge...he comes across as authoritative, but authoritarian too. His style is wooden, old-fashioned and artificial...he feels to me like he belongs in another era. The sort of person that would ask"who's gazza?".

The old saying that"The law is an ass" is exemplified by the material here...in trying to explain the anomalies / absurdities / inconsitencies of our labryinthine legal system the author serves to confuse the reader, and even himself at some points! There is a lot of"this rule ALWAYS applies...except..but then the other rule ALWAYS wins unless..." The law a minefield and this book doesnt sweep it very well!

There IS however, a lot of good unformation lodged like peanuts within a great sticky jaw-aching"Snickers" ..er.."Marathon". The latter phrase is more apt for this book. Buy it for the peanuts, its worth that much - but dont expect to enjoy the heavy coating! This is the sort of book that"The campaign for clear English" was invented for.

Criminal law statute book

Contains all the relevant the law in a ridiculous order. It is organised by theme instead of chronologically like most statute books and it is impossible to find anything. In particular the sexual offences act is in 3 or 4 seperate chunks which makes life dificult in an exam. Also due to it being organised in themes there are places where some of the sections are relevant to more than one theme so the put the name of the section and then refer you on to another page which is really annoying. If your university will let you use any other type of statute book I'd do that instead!

excellent

although the language may be a little hard to understand by those with little knowledge of law it's content is excellent! it is an wonderful source of law, sub-headed for easy reference. it is a must have for those studying the subject, especially at a-level standard.

A Practical Approach to Landlord & Tenant (4th edition)

I'm new to landlord & tenant law and found this book to be very good. It's clear, easy to read, and easy to understand. Well laid out. Not written like a legal document, unlike other landlord & tenant books I could mention (but won't!!)

An excellent introduction to complex media studies concepts

This is a textbook that goes further than any similar volume has ever done. It introduces many complicated and often confusing topics in straightforward terms, which are demonstrated using comprehensive case studies. It also covers a broad range of media-related issues widely studied at degree level, and is structured into well ordered, intuitive chapters. The new chapters in the second edition, particularly that in regard to the internet, are of an excellent standard.

Good Text At Parts But Repeats Like A Merry Go Round!!

I cant be to critic, about this, because land law without doubt is a complex and ever evolving branch of law, which can drive anyone up the wall, regardless of writing or reading etc.<br /><br />The original part of this part in the introduction of a virtual landscape and fictional characthers in a very good point and does bring home some more complex elements down to earth, and the book is if anyone in depth, perhaps at some points to much, especially when considering old laws that dont bear no resemblence to modern law now, but i guess thats the fun of law to!! <br /><br />But on a negative side, in my eyes, the case history in the book is not at times using cases of simplicty to get the point across and are often long winded affairs and to which even sometimes they cut off from wording because of!!, dosent hol much hope for the student i think!<br /><br />Also you often find that you read something and then later think you reading the same thing, ( like a dream when you wake up and suddenly remember you dreamt it!! lol ) that really does annoy me, because sometimes you end up chater surfing and thats not a good thing to be doing alot, aslo i would recommend if you want to make any sense of the starting chapters or later ones, invest in a equity and trusts book because if you havint covered it in property 2 yet, you really going to be lost off, at least i was!!<br /><br />Anyway, its got its good points and bad points, but in balance, i would have to fair and say for me personally, i have read better books that i find easier, but thats me, and for me its bad points out number the good ones.<br /><br />Sorry but i would give serious thought to over texts before reading this