Continuity, Influences and Integration in Scottish Legal History: Select Essays of David Sellar

A collection of 15 essays by David Sellar (1941-2019) on Scottish legal history, covering Celtic law, Canon and English law, and customary law. The essays demonstrate the continuity of legal institutions in Scotland from the early middle ages to the present, assess influences shaping change over time, and argue for the ancient Celtic origins of the office of Lyon King of Arms. The book includes a general introduction by Hector L. MacQueen assessing Sellar's contribution to the field.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 408 pages
Publication date: 31 August 2023
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

Introduction:
David Sellar was a pioneering historian of Scots law who made significant contributions to the field. His work rejected previous interpretations of Scottish legal history as a series of false starts and experimental approaches. Instead, Sellar emphasized the continuity of legal development, with change being a process of integration of external influences from very early times.

Key Features:
The book brings together 15 principal essays by David Sellar, reflecting his pioneering contribution to Scottish legal history. The essays are grouped into topics, covering various aspects of Celtic law and institutions, the influence of Canon and English law across a wide range of legal subjects (including family law, succession, criminal law, evidence), and customary law.

One of the notable features of the book is the inclusion of a paper written during Sellar's time as Lord Lyon King of Arms (2008-14), which was left unpublished at his death. This paper deals with the history of the office of Lyon itself and argues for its ancient Celtic origins. It demonstrates the continuity of legal institutions in Scotland from the early middle ages to the present and assesses the influences shaping change over time.

The book also includes a general introduction by Hector L. MacQueen, assessing and contextualizing Sellar's contribution to the field. MacQueen highlights the significance of Sellar's work in shaping our understanding of legal history in Scotland and its comparative significance within the broader context of legal history.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, this book provides a valuable resource for scholars and students of Scottish legal history. By gathering Sellar's major essays in a single collection, it demonstrates the scope and reach of his overall contribution. It offers an opportunity to view Sellar's work as a whole and to access his distinctive perspective on the overall trajectory of Scottish law. Sellar's work has significantly influenced our understanding of legal history in Scotland and has contributed to the appreciation of its comparative significance within the broader field of legal history.

Weight: 646g
Dimension: 234 x 156 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781474488778