Reviews

A major contribution to durkheimian scholarship and a significant addition to the sociology of law ... A lucid, detailed and comprehensive statement of Durkheim's legal theory, the first of its kind in English ... A fine work of scholarship ... The definitive account of Durkheim on law. In this impressive book, the author has managed to set forth Durkheim's ideas, culled from various sources, in a coherent and clear way, while also commenting on the debates they have spawned, and engaging in an evaluation and critique of these ideas ... Cotterrell's exposition is sophisticated and detailed ... it is one of the great qualities of this highly useful book that the reader may find problems in Durkheim's thought, and disagree with some of the author's conclusions, and yet still find himself stiumlated and enriched by reading it. For those of us who value Durkheim, this is a very important work. It will be noticed by all sociological theorists, and should stimulate constructive controversy. I hope it will contribute to a revival of interest in Durkheimian theory and research based on his approach. -- Richard Schwartz Professor Cotterrell has performed a valuable service to the field of socio-legal studies by representing Durkheim afresh, by synthesizing again the implications of Durkheim's central claims for our understanding of the authority, status, and development of law, and his book deserves a wide readership." A major contribution to durkheimian scholarship and a significant addition to the sociology of law ... A lucid, detailed and comprehensive statement of Durkheim's legal theory, the first of its kind in English ... A fine work of scholarship ... The definitive account of Durkheim on law. In this impressive book, the author has managed to set forth Durkheim's ideas, culled from various sources, in a coherent and clear way, while also commenting on the debates they have spawned, and engaging in an evaluation and critique of these ideas ... Cotterrell's exposition is sophisticated and detailed ... it is one of the great qualities of this highly useful book that the reader may find problems in Durkheim's thought, and disagree with some of the author's conclusions, and yet still find himself stiumlated and enriched by reading it. For those of us who value Durkheim, this is a very important work. It will be noticed by all sociological theorists, and should stimulate constructive controversy. I hope it will contribute to a revival of interest in Durkheimian theory and research based on his approach. Professor Cotterrell has performed a valuable service to the field of socio-legal studies by representing Durkheim afresh, by synthesizing again the implications of Durkheim's central claims for our understanding of the authority, status, and development of law, and his book deserves a wide readership."