Larva Legis Aquiliae: The Mask of the Aquilia Torn off the Action for Damage Done [Paperback]

Christian Thomasius was the founding father of the German enlightenment, and as such initiated a second German reformation . He was a philosopher, educator and journalist, but above all he was a lawyer. He was extraordinarily successful as an academic teacher and was also a prolific writer. Perhaps best known today for his campaign against witch-hunting, he was, in his day, equally renowned for his study of Roman law, of which the Larva Legis is a single but remarkable example.

The text reprinted and translated in this book is notable for three reasons. First because of the eminence and influence of its author; second because of the way in which it illustrates the development of the civilian tradition and its critical assessment by lawyers; and third, because it is a key text within the history of one of the main branches of the European law of obligations. As such it contributed to the establishment of a modern and critical approach towards the law of delict in Europe.

Margaret Hewett, indefatigable translator of Latin works from the European ius commune, and Reinhard Zimmermann, leading German legal historian and comparatist, teamed up to produce this delightful lilttle work It is a happy combination, because both are acknowledged experts in their respective fields and their combined expertise has resulted in a most satisfactory end-product.
The book is delightful for many reasons: its enigmatic title, Hewett's flowing and stylish translation, the fresh perspectives it provides into the workings of a first-rate legal mind, and Zimmermann's scholarly and informative essay on Thomasius and the law of his times. I recommend it to all lawyers, academic or practitioner, historian or lă