Armed With Sword and Scales - Law, Culture, and Local Courtrooms in London, 1860-1913

Examines the relationship between the creation of modern courtrooms and their widespread portrayal in journalism, literature, and popular culture. Sascha Auerbach argues that London's municipal courtrooms shaped the social experience and cultural meanings of law, contested moral norms, and helped determine boundaries of government authority.

List of contents

Introduction: Courtroom Culture; 1. 'Many-Coloured Scenes of Life': The Police Courts in Metropolitan Culture and Society, 1758�60; 2. 'A Ruffian Rightly Punished': Morality and Local Courtrooms in Practice and Portrayal, 1860�80; 3. 'An Evil Quarter of an Hour About the Precincts': Urban Reform and Municipal Authority in the Courtroom, 1870�02; 4. 'Two Shillings' Worth of Revenge in the Form of a Summons': The Integration of Courtrooms and Communities in London, 1882�02; 5. A Poor Woman's Court of Justice, 1882�10; 6. 'The Very Centre of Observation and Information': Constables, Magistrates, and Changing Patterns of Prosecution and Punishment, 1880�13; Conclusion: The Historical and Cultural Legacies of the London Magistrates Courts.

About the author

Sascha Auerbach is a Lecturer in Modern British and Colonial History at the University of Nottingham. A former Fulbright Scholar, he is the author of Race, Law and 'The Chinese Puzzle' in Imperial Britain (2009).

Summary

Examines the relationship between the creation of modern courtrooms and their widespread portrayal in journalism, literature, and popular culture. Sascha Auerbach argues that London's municipal courtrooms shaped the social experience and cultural meanings of law, contested moral norms, and helped determine boundaries of government authority.

Product details

• Authors: Sascha Auerbach, Sascha (University of Nottingham) Auerbach, Auerbach Sascha
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.12.2022
• EAN: 9781108798464
• ISBN: 978-1-108-79846-4
• No. of pages: 425
• Series: Studies in Legal History
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > 20th century (up to 1945); Social sciences, law, business > Law > General, dictionaries; London, Greater London, European History, 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000, c 1800 to c 1900, British & Irish history, Later 19th century c 1850 to c 1899, Legal History, HISTORY / Europe / Great Britain / General, Early 20th century c 1900 to c 1950, C 1900 - C 1914