First published in 1997, this volume provides the reader from a common law background with an introduction to the Legal System and basic private law institutions of contemporary Italy. '...it gives a good impression of a tradition that is very different from our own...there is much here to whet the appetite...for anyone who is thinking of studying Italian law this would be a helpful book to read.' The Cambridge Law Journal '...Watkin's study of Italy and its legal heritage is thorough, well written and well-organized...should prove a useful adjunct text for comparative law and even legal history courses.' The American Journal of Legal History '...the text succeeds in providing a clear and well-written introduction to the basic features of the Italian legal system...the overall quality of the work is high and it is highly recommended.' International and Comparative Law Quarterly