The emergence of an interdisciplinary study of law and literature is one of the most exciting theoretical developments currently taking place in North America and Britain. Ian Ward explores the educative ambitions of the law and literature movement, and explores the law in key areas of literature from Shakespeare to Umberto Eco to Beatrix Potter, from feminist literature to children"s literature to the modern novel. This original book defines the developing state of law and literature studies, and demonstrates how the theory of law and literature can illuminate the literary text.