The Law in Cervantes and Shakespeare

Book excerpt: Building on her earlier work, Law and Literature, María José Falcón y Tella's new study takes a fresh look at the law in the works of two of the greatest authors in world literature: Cervantes and Shakespeare. In doing so, she examines subjects as wide-ranging as individual rights and freedoms, government and the administration of justice, criminal law, civil law, labor law, commercial law, and the treatment of mental illness, among others. This original and thought-provoking volume offers readers insight into the law "as" literature and the law "in" literature through the prism of masterpieces such as Don Quixote and Hamlet.