The Principles of the Law of Contract, first published in 1967, has seen five editions, several reprints and is now in its sixth edition. This new edition includes extensive discussion on termination of contracts, breach of contract, and remedies for such breach, as well as discussion on damages, together with the linked subject of causation. This revised and updated work also takes decisions passed up to the end of February 2002 into account during discussion.
Alastair James Kerr BA (Unisa), LLB (Wits), LLM, PhD (Natal), LLD (honoris causa) (Rhodes) (born 18 January 1922, Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland) is an Advocate of the High Court of South Africa and Professor Emeritus and Fellow of Rhodes University. Although "a proud Scot," he has spent most of his ninety years in South Africa, and is one of the country's foremost legal scholars.
Kerr registered for a Bachelor of Arts at what was then known as the Rhodes University College in 1939. 2012, accordingly, is his 73rd year of association with the university. He was appointed as a lecturer in the Department of Law at the college in 1955, and promoted to senior lecturer in 1958. He attained the rank of Professor of Law on October 1, 1968, and was Head of the Department of Law from June 1, 1984 to December 31, 1987, and Dean of the Faculty from June 1, 1984, to June 30, 1990. He has acted as Vice-Principal for three periods and as Principal of the University for short periods when both the Vice Principal and Principal were absent from Grahamstown. On February 8, 1993, the honorary status of Senior Counsel was conferred upon him by FW de Klerk, the State President of South Africa, in recognition of his services to the law. In recognition of his service to Rhodes, Kerr was awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) in 1995, thus following in the footsteps of his father Alexander Kerr, who had been awarded an LLD (hc) by Rhodes in 1961.