This concise treatise on defamation is both lucid and comprehensive. Statutory developments, including the implementation of the Defamation Act 1996, are incorporated and there is a full discussion of the various cases where aspects of the common law relating to defamation have been examined. Where the law is uncertain, the authors suggest a solution which in their view accords with principle. The scope of the book has been expanded to include coverage of practice and procedure whilst recent developments are fully discussed, including important Court of Appeal decisions and developing areas of practice such as human rights, data protection and the Internet. This is the leading authority on defamation law and as such will be an essential addition to the library of all practitioners specialising in this area.