Professor Gerald Fridman was an internationally recognized expert in the law of contracts. Completed posthumously by Professor Rick Bigwood, Variations on the Theme of Contract is an authoritative, engaging text that offers Professor Fridman's final thoughts on this complex, sometimes confusing, area of law.

A thorough review

Professor Fridman adopted a unique and creative structure for this publication which consists of a number of independent essays that address various aspects of the law of contract. The collection of essays is divided into a "Prelude" followed by 14 "Variations," each of which is introduced by an epigraph from a Stephen Sondheim musical – a nod to the late author's love of musical theatre.

As Professor Fridman explains in the book's opening "Prelude," his "intention in presenting these essays is not to, as it were, tear the law of contract to pieces. Rather, it is to draw attention to developments that merit a critical appreciation." To that end, Professor Fridman provides a close examination of the evolution and current state of key topics related to contract law, including the freedom of contract, consideration, privity, estoppel, misrepresentation, mistake, interpretation, contractual terms, performance, frustration and unjust enrichment. Throughout, he encourages readers to delve deeper into the subject matter as he fulfills his purpose – "to inform, educate and stimulate thought about the issues that have been raised, and, perhaps, at the same time, to provide some entertaining reading matter."

An authoritative text

Variations on the Theme of Contract would be a useful addition to any lawyer's bookshelf, but it would be a particularly valuable resource for: