Crime, Reason and History
A Critical Introduction to Criminal Law

This book provides a challenging, alternative, critical approach to every other text which deals with the criminal law's general principles.

Alan Norrie (Author)

9780521516464, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 9 October 2014

424 pages
25.4 x 18 x 3 cm, 0.94 kg

Many books seek to explain the general principles of the criminal law. Crime, Reason and History stands out and alone as a book that critically and concisely analyses these principles and comes up with a different viewpoint: that the law is shaped by social history and therefore systematically structured around conflicting elements. Updated extensively to include two new chapters on loss of control and self defence and with an extended treatment of offence and defence, this new edition combines challenging and sophisticated analysis with accessibility.

Part I. Context: 1. Contradiction, critique and criminal law
2. The historical context of criminal doctrine
Part II. Mens Rea: 3. Motive and intention
4. Recklessness
Part III. Actus Reus: 6. Acts and omissions
7. Causation
Part IV. Defences: 8. Necessity and duress
9. Insanity and diminished responsibility
10. Self defence
11. Loss of control
Part V. Concluding: 12. Sentencing
13. Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Criminal law & procedure [LNF], Law [L]