This first volume of two on European Contract Law was originally published in German to considerable acclaim. This English edition has been translated by the well regarded translator, Tony Weir. The book is wide in scope - examining the contract rules of several different European jurisdictions, including the most imporatnt civilian systems and English common law, and attempting to articulate general principles which are common to all of them. This first volume analyses the general principles of the law on formation and validity of contracts and on agency, third party beneficiaries and assignment while the second will examine contractual remedies. This volume will be invaluable to scholars and practitioners in Europe and beyond.