By Professor R. Rodiere. Published by Sirey, Paris.

A second edition of Professor Rodiere’s well-known work on the law of land and air transport has recently been published. Formerly available in three separate volumes the new edition is conveniently put into one complete volume. The work covers all aspects of French law and practice giving a wealth of authorities and case law on the subject. The reader will find all aspects of both domestic law and the relevant international conventions is dealt with exhaustively.

The first part of the work deals with the administration of transportation and the public regime. The second part deals with the various operations relating to transportation, and it is here that Professor Rodiere’s skill in handling the complex subject matter is outstanding. The first section deals with the contract for the carriage of goods, its formation and the rights and duties of the parties. The second section deals similarly with the contract for the carriage of passengers, an area where there has been a considerable degree of development since the first edition appeared. A special section is devoted to the complex question of the freight forwarder and successive carriage under French law, an area in which France has many rules not found in other legal systems. Finally, there is a section devoted to the various ancillary operations relating to transportation, including the hiring of vehicles and planes, warehousing, etc., and insurance.

This work is to be recommended to lawyers involved in Continental law problems which, with the growth of the Common Market, have become more numerous. It is not sufficient these days merely to be acquainted with the common law and the international conventions. A working knowledge of the domestic law of the more important Continental countries is also necessary if a thorough understanding of the subject is to be achieved. That of France is particularly useful as so many other legal systems have been based upon its codes and doctrine.

For those involved in comparative research it is an invaluable reference work which all law libraries should possess.