The Closing Chapter contains, in Book One, a sequel to Lord Denning's autobiography, The Family Story. In it he tells with disarming and touching candour of the circumstances of the publication and withdrawal of What Next in the Law and of his decision to retire from the Master of the Rolls. Book Two contains a fascinating account of some of the leading contentious legal issues of the day, in which he has played a singular part.

Book One. Retirement Section One. My Last Months as Master 1. A calamitous fortnight 2. The summer term 3. The last day of the summer term 4. The long vacation Section Two. Autumn Leaves 1. A judge of silk 2. The cathedral at Winchester 3. Dinner at the Inner Temple 4. A luncheon at the Savoy 5. The cathedral at Norwich 6. Abortion in the Lords 7. A look at the Law Lords 8. The family at Christmas Section Three. Afterthoughts 1. Plain English 2. After Christmas - the water strike 3. The Sikh boy's turban Book Two. Discipline up to Date Section Four. Statutory Interpretation again up to the Fore Section Five. Public and Private Law - A New Dichotomy 1. The coming of judicial review 2. A notable difference 3. Law and politics 4. Remedies 5. Postscript Section Six. Trade Unions Introduction 1. Up to the 1906 Act 2. The Industrial Relations Act 1971 3. The 1974 and the 1976 Acts 4. New legislation imperative 5. The 1980 Act 6. The closed shop 7. Trade Unions go 'poaching' 8. The European Convention Section Seven. Conflicts in the Courts Introduction 1. Locus standi 2. Liberty of the subject 3. The Mareva up to date 4. Who can get a Mareva? 5. Anton Piller up to date 6. Delay in arbitrations 7. Withdrawal clauses in charterparties 8. High Trees up to date 9. Interlocutary injunctions up to date 10. The difference in approach 11. Exemption clauses up to date Epilogue Index

Alfred Denning , Baron Denning