"Gatley on Libel and Slander" is a comprehensive legal treatise that has been a definitive work on defamation law and practice for many years. Here is a detailed overview of the book:

Key Themes and Content

1. Definitive Work on Defamation Law:

   • The book is renowned for its thorough examination of the English law of defamation, including other media and communications claims such as malicious falsehood, privacy, data protection, and harassment.

2. Substantive and Procedural Law:

   • It provides a comprehensive update and restructuring to cover both substantive and procedural aspects of defamation law.

3. New Chapters and Updates:

   • The 13th edition includes new chapters on serious harm and the defences of truth, honest opinion, and publication on a matter of public interest.
   • It also features a fully revised chapter on pre-trial applications, including preliminary trials of meaning.
   • Dedicated chapters on misuse of private information and data protection are also included.

4. Case Law Review:

   • The book reviews all key case law, including notable cases such as Lachaux, Stocker, Serafin, Lloyd v Google, Economou, Wright v Ver, Wright v Granath, Corbyn v Millett, Duchess of Sussex v Associated, and Soriano v Forensic News.

5. Jurisprudence and International Law:

   • It discusses the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights and the continuing effect of the Human Rights Act on defamation law.

6. Forms and Precedents:

   • The book provides forms and precedents for issuing proceedings, statements of case, and settlement, as well as reproduces relevant excerpts of key statutes.

7. Appendix with Statutes and Rules:

   • An appendix includes statutes, procedural rules, and damages awards, making it a valuable resource for practitioners.

Editions and Authors

• The book has been published in multiple editions, with the 13th edition being the most recent. The earlier editions include the 6th edition published in 1967, which was authored by John Clement Carpenter Gatley, Philip Simon Coleman Lewis, and Robert Lindley Macewen.

Critical Reception

• There is limited critical reception available for the book, as it is primarily a legal treatise aimed at practitioners and scholars. However, its reputation as a definitive work in the field of defamation law is widely acknowledged.

Summary

"Gatley on Libel and Slander" is a comprehensive and authoritative text on defamation law, covering both substantive and procedural aspects. It is updated regularly to reflect the latest developments in the field, making it an essential resource for media law practitioners, academics, and legal professionals. The book's detailed coverage of case law, new chapters on contemporary issues, and inclusion of forms and precedents make it a valuable tool for navigating the complex landscape of defamation law.