The late John Fleming, emeritus Professor of Law in the University of California at Berkeley, was the pre-eminent torts lawyer of the age; his Law of Torts has influenced generations of students and scholars, and remains a classic of legal literature. In this volume, distinguished academics and judges from around the world pay tribute to him in a collection of essays which range widely across tort law, legal theory, legal history and comparative law. Topics discussed include: tort and human rights; the duty of care in negligence; codification of the law of obligations in Europe; the basis of strict liability in particular and of responsibility generally in tort law; and aspects of products liability. These stimulating essays have much to say about the past, present and future of the law of obligations and will be of great interest to scholars and lawyers of all legal systems. From the editors' preface John Fleming was one of the most influential writers on the law of torts and comparative law in the English-speaking world this century. His towering contribution to scholarship is evidenced not only by the great prestige his work attracts in academic circles but also by the frequency and high respect with which his work is cited by judges in appellate courts of many jurisdictions. The authors of this collection of essays on the law of obligations intend it as a tribute to his achievements.

This excellent collection of essays in honour of John Fleming reflects both his international influence in several legal systems, and also his personal influence as a communicator, teacher and legal problem-solver ... throughout the text, this collection manages (like the scholar it honours) to combine the examination of broad general principles and policies, drawing on several legal categories and systems to see problems in their grand context, whilst at the same time exploring those same problems with a sharp eye for individual detail and nuance ... a thoroughly scholarly and absorbing collection. It is good value - more comprehensive than many other collections of similar price - and can be recommended as a worthy tribute to "the doyen of tort writers". * Janet O'Sullivan, The Cambridge Law Journal 1999 *
This Festschrift is a worthy tribute to the towering contribution of Fleming to legal scholarship ... The volume is a valuable contribution to the analysis of contemporary tort problems. It will be of great interest to scholars, advocates and judges throughout the common law jursidictions, and also in European countries. * Johan Steyn, Law Quarterly Review, October 1999 *

Peter Cane was, until 1997, a fellow of Corpus Christi College, Oxford. He is now a Professor of Law in the Research School of Social Sciences at the Australian National University. Jane Stapleton was, until 1997, a fellow of Balliol College, Oxford. She is now a Professor of Law in the Research School of Social Sciences at the Australian National University.