Story, Joseph. Commentaries on the Law of Agency as a Branch of Commercial and Maritime Jurisprudence, With Occasional Illustrations from the Civil and Foreign Law. Boston: Charles C. Little and James Brown, 1839. xxiii, 544 pp. Reprinted 2004 by The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd. LCCN 2003052758. ISBN 1-58477-372-3. Cloth. $130. * Reprint of the first edition. This treatise was written during the period in which Story [1779-1845] was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court and Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. In his Legal Bibliography (1847), Marvin praised the thoroughness of this treatise, noting that "[Story] has everywhere illustrated the doctrines of common law, by copious extracts from distinguished writers on Roman and Continental law" (672). And in The Formative Era in American Law, Pound includes this title in a list of the most influential and authoritative American treatises written during the nineteenth century (140-141).

The focus of this book, the legal situation created when an agent acts without authority, is one of the most important issues in agency law. The analysis is divided into three sections: apparent authority, ratification and the liability of the falsus procurator. Adopting a unique comparative perspective, the contributions are drawn from many different legal systems, providing the opportunity for analysis of the European common law/civil law divide. The analysis extends beyond Europe, however, taking into account the mixed legal system of South Africa, as well as the United States. Finally, there is a useful consideration of the Principles of European Contract Law and the UNIDROIT Principles of International Commercial Contracts 2004. This study will be an invaluable guide for those interested in the study of comparative law, international practitioners and those interested in the harmonisation of European Private Law.

A concise but thorough resource, the guide provides a time-saving reference for the latest case law, and the most recent legislation affecting rulemaking.