A. W. Brian Simpson (1931–2011)

The late Professor Simpson brings his leading cases to life by exploring the background information that cannot be found the Law Reports. Armed with this information the decisions will be seen from a wider perspective: the real reasons' for what many consider to be daft or unsatisfactory decisions become apparent. The book is intended for the general reader as well as lawyers: both, I think, will find it enjoyable. The author also published books on the nature of law, which explains why there are thought-provoking elements to this book.… (mais)

A look at all the different ways the legal system can interpret cannibalism for survival. Simpson profiles cases of frontier cannibalism, touching briefly on the Donner Party, then more extensively on Alferd G. Packer, "The Colorado Man-Eater". Much of the book involves murder and cannibalism at sea, a situation known as "the custom of the sea", which was not uncommon in days when ship owners would intentionally send crews out with insufficient food simply to cut costs. Many of the chapters are devoted to the case of the Mignonette, and English ship that wrecked in 1884. The group of survivors in a small boat eventually killed the seventeen year-old cabin boy and ate him, a fact they never tried to hide upon rescue. The captain and his mate were, after a long trial that involved two district courts and multiple high court judges, convicted of the murder. It's one of the very few trials of its kind, as murder had traditionally been overlooked in cases of cannibalism at sea.

Most, but not all the cases of survival included here involve cannibalism, and Simpson provides legal information throughout. In fact, his chapters of the legal battle involved in the Mignonette began to seem like they would never end, but it does give a thorough insight as to how the court system operated at that time, and explains a little used strategy that would eventually mutate into The Court of Appeals.… (mais)