It is a happy coincidence indeed that in the 40th year of publication, the Editors of this Journal have had the privilege of publishing a liber amicorum for Professor James Read. In 1996 he retired from 40 years of teaching in the University of London, since 1974 as Professor of Comparative Public Law with special reference to Africa, a Chair which he retains in an Emeritus capacity. It has been a formidable task to attempt to do justice to the work of this “able, patient, effective and thoughtful scholar” (to adopt the words of two of our contributors) to African legal studies. However, this volume contains essays by colleagues and erstwhile students upon subjects which will at least in part reflect the richness and diversity of James Read’s interests.