The Great Codes of the end of the 18th Century and of the beginning of the 19th century (ALR, Napoleonic Code and ABGB) are generally considered as massive legislative events with a reforming aim. One can also analyse these codes as attempts for rationalising the legal order and for imposing more detailed guidelines upon judges. One factor of success of the Napoleonic Code was its complementarity with a published and authoritative case-law. Can we make a fruitful comparison between this French situation and the parallel development of Law Reports and Consolited Acts in 19th century England? Place: All Souls College, Hovenden Room
