'Michael John's outstanding book is not only an exemplary case-study but illuminates many important aspects of nineteenth-century German history ... this is an impressively researched, sharp-witted and very well written book with an importance that goes well beyond its immediate subject.'David Blackburn, History Workshop Journal

• Abbreviations; Introduction; The theory and practice of Codification, 1814-1867; The politics of legal unity, 1867-1873; The approach to codification, 1874-1888; The public response and the campaign for legal reform, 1888-1896; The Wilhelmine State and the revision of the code, 1888-1896; The final stage: The civil code in the Bundesrat and Reichstag, 1895-1896; Conclusion

'Michael John's outstanding book is not only an exemplary case-study but illuminates many important aspects of nineteenth-century German history ... this is an impressively researched, sharp-witted and very well written book with an importance that goes well beyond its immediate subject.'David Blackburn, History Workshop Journal

• Abbreviations; Introduction; The theory and practice of Codification, 1814-1867; The politics of legal unity, 1867-1873; The approach to codification, 1874-1888; The public response and the campaign for legal reform, 1888-1896; The Wilhelmine State and the revision of the code, 1888-1896; The final stage: The civil code in the Bundesrat and Reichstag, 1895-1896; Conclusion

'Michael John's outstanding book is not only an exemplary case-study but illuminates many important aspects of nineteenth-century German history ... this is an impressively researched, sharp-witted and very well written book with an importance that goes well beyond its immediate subject.'David Blackburn, History Workshop Journal

• Abbreviations; Introduction; The theory and practice of Codification, 1814-1867; The politics of legal unity, 1867-1873; The approach to codification, 1874-1888; The public response and the campaign for legal reform, 1888-1896; The Wilhelmine State and the revision of the code, 1888-1896; The final stage: The civil code in the Bundesrat and Reichstag, 1895-1896; Conclusion