Major legal systems in the world today

The publication in English of my book on the major systems of contemporary law gives me great pleasure—and for a reason I do not hesitate to state here. I am convinced that it is absolutely essential at the present time to develop comparative legal studies, and I believe that this book, such as it has been conceived, provides the necessary basis for a study of comparative law. I wish to thank Professor C. M. Schmitthoff, on whose initiative the publishers first became interested in the English-language publication of the work. I would also especially like to thank Professor John E. C. Brier-ley, who was kind enough to undertake the translation and adaptation. To do so it would not have sufficed, as the uninitiated might think, to be thoroughly conversant with English and French. It was also necessary to be a comparatist and to understand the many legal terms peculiar to the different systems studied. Few people could have translated what I have written with as much understanding as Professor Brierley has. To show my appreciation of the very considerable and intricate work that he has carried out, it seemed to me only just that this work appear under our two names—although this alone cannot repay my debt of gratitude. This is a translation and adaptation of Professor Rene David's Les Grands systemes de droit contemporains which was originally based on the second French edition of 1966, published by Librairie Dalloz in the series known as Precis Dalloz. It has been revised largely in the light of changes made by Professor David and Professor Camille Jauffret-Spinosi in the eighth French edition of 1982. The adaptation to an English readership has involved certain changes in the text itself as well as alterations and additions to the notes and bibliography.