Rule of law seems to be experiencing a bit of a dark period in China right now. Corruption is endemic; popular protests against unlawful government actions seem to be at an all-time high; and at the same time, and somewhat paradoxically, the partystate has become increasingly aggressive in suppressing people who are seeking to use law rather than violence to express grievances and felt injustices against public officials. Universities have even been told that academics should not talk about the constitution and constitutionalism.

The Construction of Commercial Contracts by Professor J.W. Carter is an ambitious_x000D_ book. Its stated aim is to "explain as a coherent whole the principles which regulate_x000D_ the construction of commercial contracts" (at p. vii). As will be seen, it more than_x000D_ meets this lofty aim, and is a valuable contribution to an area of work that is not_x000D_ only difficult, but also of immense practical importance. The book achieves its aim_x000D_ by explaining construction as constituting three separate stages: the identification of_x000D_ context (and terms), the determination of the meaning (and legal effect) of a contract,_x000D_ and, finally, the application of a contract to the factual circumstances that have arisen_x000D_ (see p. vii). This central thesis is primarily supplemented by detailed references to English and Australian law, but references to other Commonwealth jurisdictions (including Singapore), as well as the UNIDROIT principles, CISG and the American Restatement (Second) of Contracts, are also made where relevant. The structural result is a book neatly organised around seven parts, with Parts I to III setting out the general concepts and themes behind the book, in addition to the general principles that apply to the construction of commercial contracts.