Book review: 'Leading cases of the twentieth century' edited by Eoin O'Dell (Round Hall Sweet and Maxwell, 2000)

• Author: Bryan McMahon
• Position: Judge of the Circuit Court
• Pages: 152-156

BOOK REVIEW: “LEADING CASES OF THE

TWENTIETH CENTURY”

EDITED BY EOIN O’DELL

(ROUND HALL SWEET AND MAXWELL,

2000)

HIS HONOUR JUDGE BRYAN MCMAHON*

To review a book of twenty seven essays on

twenty-six leading cases of the 20th century is an unenviable

task. At the outset it presents a threshold problem of

approach. Clearly, given the limitations imposed by the

editor, it cannot be a useful approach to write twenty six brief

paragraphs, one on each essay. To select for mention a few

representative essays only, runs the risk which the football

manager runs, when, after a good game he is asked to

nominate his best players.

Inevitably, in the circumstances, I cannot mention all

the contributions in a meaningful way, but in selecting some

for mention, I do not intend to trivialise the other

contributions. My selection reflects my own personal

interests, and I have no doubt that another reviewer might

select totally different essays for comment and

commendation. In truth, as the prudent team manager might

say of his charges, this was a team performance with each

contributor playing his or her part. The editor too, Mr.

O’Dell, is to be congratulated in extracting such a high

overall quality performance from all his players.

At the outset, one is tempted to examine what is

meant by the word “Leading” in the title of the collection,

and indeed several of the contributors felt obliged to justify

2001] Book Review: “Leading Cases” 152

*Judge of the Circuit Court.