This book investigates how the historical evolution of the contract of employment in Britain has shaped the modern legal and economic framework of the labor market. Authors Frank Wilkinson and Simon Deakin, both established scholars in the field of labor law and economics, utilize a historical institutionalist approach to trace the development of employment law from the industrial revolution to the present day. By analyzing the interplay between industrialization and the welfare state, they argue that current legal models are deeply rooted in specific historical conditions that require critical re-evaluation.

Legal scholars and labor economists frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the historical trajectory of British labor law. Experts note that the prose is academically dense and provides a rigorous framework for analyzing the intersection of law, history, and economic policy.