The Commentaries were long regarded as the leading work on the development of English law and played a role in the development of the American legal system. They were in fact the first methodical treatise on the common law suitable for a lay readership since at least the Middle Ages. This is book one out of four, including more than 1000 footnotes and annotations. Book II: Of the Rights of Things
Of the Rights of Things addresses the law governing property, both real (land) and personal (movable goods). Blackstone distinguishes between corporeal and incorporeal hereditaments, detailing how property is acquired, held, and transferred through mechanisms like inheritance, purchase, or gift. The book covers feudal land tenure, estates (freehold and leasehold), title conveyancing, and the rules of descent. It also explores personal property, including contracts, bailments, and liens. Blackstone integrates historical context, tracing property law’s evolution from feudal customs to modern practices. This volume is essential for understanding the legal principles underpinning ownership and economic transactions in English common law, offering insights into the property-centric nature of 18th-century society and its enduring influence on modern property law.
Description:
The Commentaries were long regarded as the leading work on the development of English law and played a role in the development of the American legal system. They were in fact the first methodical treatise on the common law suitable for a lay readership since at least the Middle Ages. This is book one out of four, including more than 1000 footnotes and annotations.
Book II: Of the Rights of Things
Of the Rights of Things addresses the law governing property, both real (land) and personal (movable goods). Blackstone distinguishes between corporeal and incorporeal hereditaments, detailing how property is acquired, held, and transferred through mechanisms like inheritance, purchase, or gift. The book covers feudal land tenure, estates (freehold and leasehold), title conveyancing, and the rules of descent. It also explores personal property, including contracts, bailments, and liens. Blackstone integrates historical context, tracing property law’s evolution from feudal customs to modern practices. This volume is essential for understanding the legal principles underpinning ownership and economic transactions in English common law, offering insights into the property-centric nature of 18th-century society and its enduring influence on modern property law.