Andrew Fitzmaurice Book order

Travers Twiss, a prominent Victorian jurist, navigated a tumultuous life marked by scandal and the establishment of the Congo Free State. Initially a staunch defender of Victorian order, his personal upheavals transformed him into a reformer who paradoxically aided one of the most brutal colonial regimes. The biography explores his elaborate deception involving a Belgian prostitute and his subsequent role in shaping international law for King Leopold of Belgium. This compelling narrative intertwines Twiss's personal and professional transformations, revealing his profound impact on legal history.

Adopting a global approach, Fitzmaurice analyses the laws that shaped modern European empires from medieval times to the twentieth century.

Exploring the influence of Renaissance humanism on English colonization, this study delves into a variety of writings, from Thomas More to the Virginia Company. Andrew Fitzmaurice reveals that English expansion was deeply rooted in neo-classical ideals, addressing motivations like wealth, honour, and the quest for liberty, while also confronting the ethical dilemmas surrounding the dispossession of Native Americans. Contrary to common beliefs, the early colonial tradition often resisted profit-driven motives, only later evolving into a more aggressive colonial ideology.