This book, like all books, is a product of time, place, circumstances and personality. My aims in writing it are explained in Chapter 1; why I did it is, ultimately, a psychological question which I will not answer here. Instead, I want to acknowledge a number of debts which are important to me in its creation, although most will not recognise it and none have read the result in advance: Robert Orme, Head of History of Art at Latymer Upper School, Hammersmith, who taught me that history is the foundation of explanation; Graham Routledge, late Fellow of Corpus Christi College Cambridge, who taught me law as an analytic discipline; Iain Murray, late Partner of Linklaters, who showed me not only that all aspects of law are interconnected, but also that the socio-economic consequences are profound; Charles Allen-Jones, retired Senior Partner of Linklaters, who showed me law as a creative tool in solving commercial problems; Professor John Board, Director ICMA Centre, University of Reading, who has shown me not only great understanding but also how an economist's view of the Capital Markets can immeasurably enhance a lawyer's view; and my friend Dora Lawson who continues to teach me that in a world of relative, ever-shifting and, ultimately, futile values it is possible to live according to the highest standards of integrity. In the production of this book I have had the privilege of working with Andrea Philo, whose support over many years I cannot repay.

The law, or at least the regulation, is stated as at 20 September 2007.