I have a book review out today a review of Felony and the Guilty Mind in Medieval England, by Elizabeth Papp Kamali, in The English Historical Review: Felony and the Guilty Mind in Medieval England, by Elizabeth Papp Kamali | The English Historical Review | Oxford Academic (oup.com)

Since this (excellent) book has received all sorts of praise and prizes, it feels slightly bandwagon-jumping to review it now, though in my defence I wrote this ages ago – possibly even pre-Lockdown I – the world of publishing moves in mysteriously-paced ways.

Still quite like reviewing books, as long as I like them. As a young whippersnapper, it was a bit of a thrill to make the odd criticism (though I don’t think I have ever been inappropriately critical – very much hope not; certainly nothing in comparison to some of the miserly-spirited write-ups I have seen of late), but these days, it is just nice to show appreciation for good work and well-made arguments.  It feels, at the moment, as if there is a particular wealth of good legal history books – perhaps it is that there is a crop of people coming to the top of their game at the same time (yes I did a bit of metaphor mixing there – what of it?). Long may it continue.

GS

2/6/2021

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