Book excerpt: Written by the widely respected author of The Law of Defamation and the Internet, this book analyses the modern law of defamation in a way that consolidates into a coherent structure its various sources - the common law, earlier statutory reforms, European and other foreign influences, and the changes effected by the Defamation Act 2013. As well as examining the implications of the 2013 reforms, Collins on Defamation dissects, in context, the very large number of ambiguous and contestable questions of construction in, and possibly unintended consequences of, the new law. The book draws on authorities from a wide international research base to explain the application of relevant principles, including the principles applicable to multi-jurisdictional publications and actions involving one or more foreign litigants. As well as providing encyclopaedic analysis of the law of defamation, the work contains detailed coverage of relevant conflict of law principles, and important and emerging related causes of action, including misuse of private information, malicious falsehood, data protection rights, and protection from harassment. Comprehensive tables of recent damages awards, and an extensive set of precedents for common notices and pleadings, are also included. This book is an essential text for any practitioner in the field.