Simon Stern (University of Toronto – Faculty of Law) has posted William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England, Vol. 4 (1769) (Markus Dubber, ed., Foundational Texts in Modern Criminal Law (Oxford University Press), Forthcoming) on SSRN. Here is the abstract:
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This book chapter discusses the fourth volume of Blackstone's Commentaries (1769), asking what contribution this volume makes to English criminal law. Issues addressed include the general structure of Blackstone's discussion, the relation between Blackstone's treatment and those of his precursors (especially Sir Matthew Hale and William Hawkins), the historical and literary range of Blackstone's references, the nature of his legal reform agenda, and his conception of the book's audience.