"Nelson's historiographic goal, which he unquestionably succeeds at, is encouraging further research on how different structures of colonial government benefited different interests and social groups. Nelson offers up ample places for historians to delve deeper, focusing on specific geographic regions, temporal periods, or legal developments. There is clearly a great depth within this subject, and in that regard Nelson sets up other historians to do that work, while simultaneously drawing meaningful conclusions in a work committed to breadth." -- Aileen McKinstry, H-Net: Humanities and Social Sciences Online ".fascinating details.compelling analyses." -- Justin A. Joyce, Early American Literature "William Nelson's 'new narrative' of government and law in British North America is an excellent and much-needed intervention that will broaden our way of thinking about the origins of the American Union and, eventually, the creation of the American nation.

" -- Annette Gordon-Reed, Charles Warren Professor of American Legal History and Harvard Law School Professor of History "Nelson's study productively synthesizes American colonial and legal history, emphasizing local power in the colonial era and the gradual evolution of national institutions and the legal profession from local and regional roots. This valuable book will be important for law and graduate history students, as well as upper-level undergraduates in early American courses." -- Sarah Barringer Gordon, Arlin M. Adams Professor of Law and Professor of History, University of Pennsylvania "William Nelson's masterful study will forever banish the view that English law was transplanted to the American colonies. It shows that colonial courts produced striking legal diversity, and lawyers gradually forged convergence through strategic adaptations of the common law. Original, clear, and grounded in extensive research-this book is required reading for anyone interested in the origins of law and governance in early America." -- Lauren Benton, Nelson O. Tyrone, Jr.

Professor of History and Professor of Law, Vanderbilt University.