Historisch-kritischer Kommentar zum BGB

This commentary on the German Civil Code makes available to the modern reader the rich store of historical experiences on which present-day German legal doctrine and case law are based. Each analysis starts with the presentation of the given legal issue, shows different solutions practised before the BGB, explains the choices made by the draftsmen of the code in the late 19th century and then presents the main developments in legislation, court practice, and legal doctrine. The commentary thus provides the basis for a critical re-evaluation of modern legal doctrine and also specifies the position of German private law within the broader European context. The fourth volume deals with the Family Law, a subject with dramatic changes throughout the 20th century.