Law as Literature, Literature as Law c. 1200-1700

In Measure for Measure, Shakespeare's severe justice Angelo urges the problems that might arise from a static conception of the law: 'We must not make a scarecrow of the law, setting it up to fear the birds of prey and let it keep one shape till custom make it their perch and not their terror' (2.1.1-4). Despite Angelo's temporary authority and corrupt nature, the play illustrates literature's ability to scrutinise the boundaries of legal power. Yet Shakespeare's contemporaries also viewed the legal realm as an instructive performance space, as John Holles advises his son that 'More instruction is to be had at the starr-chamber than at the globe.'This dichotomy encapsulates the intricate connections between law and literature, considered in this volume by approaching law as literature and literature as law. The present book brings together legal and literary experts to explore these ideas, with perspectives from established academics, early career scholars, and postgraduate students. The chapters examine medieval chronicles, poems, legal treatises, early modern plays, novels, cases, handbooks, and more. Themes include law in literature, legal literature, law as performance, and literature as a legal medium.The volume serves as an essential resource for academics seeking to enrich their understanding of the complex dynamics that shaped medieval and early modern societies. Its relevance to contemporary discussions surrounding interdisciplinary methodologies also positions the collection as an essential addition to the libraries of scholars and students interested in the ongoing dialogue between law and the humanities.

About the Author

Clare Egan is a senior lecturer in medieval and early modern literature at Lancaster University, United Kingdom. She specialises in medieval to early modern performance, especially in relation to defamation, as explored in her recent monograph Performing Provincial Libel: Community Conflict in Early Modern England (2025). Prior to her current post, she was a research assistant at the University of Huddersfield and a visiting lecturer in early modern drama and the law at the University of Southampton. Clare completed her BA Hons English Literature, AHRC-funded MA in Medieval and Renaissance Culture, and AHRC-funded PhD on early modern libel at the University of Southampton.

Sarah B. White is an assistant professor in the Law of Trusts and Co-Director of the History of Law and Governance Centre at the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom. She specialises in medieval legal and ecclesiastical history, with expertise in court procedure, the legal profession, and the intersection of law and religion. Prior to her current post, she was a lecturer in medieval history at Lancaster University and a research fellow at the University of St Andrews on the ERC-funded comparative legal history project: Civil Law, Common Law, Customary Law . Sarah earned her BA Hons. in Medieval Studies at the University of Victoria, followed by an MA at the University of Toronto and a PhD in legal history at the University of St Andrews.