The law of torts is concerned with the obligations that are created by the infringement of rights. This work seeks to show that this apparently simple proposition provides the groundwork for a new theoretical model for conceiving the law of torts, and a new way of understanding the subject.

1. Introduction ; 2. Rights ; 3. Loss ; 4. Remedies ; 5. Fault ; 6. Causation ; 7. Remoteness ; 8. Privity ; 9. Concurrence ; 10. State ; 11. Attribution ; 12. Accessories ; 13. Classification ; 14. Policy ; 15. Justice ; 16. Conclusion

It may not be the text for a practitioner who looks for his law to be pre-processed in such a way that with a minimum amount of warming up and nothing in the way of elaboration it can be served up to the bench and found palatable, but for those who prefer to sharpen their presentations with fresh material and the spice of controversy, this is a book which should be on the shelf and kept within easy reach.

`It may not be the text for a practitioner who looks for his law to be pre-processed in such a way that with a minimum amount of warming up and nothing in the way of elaboration it can be served up to the bench and found palatable, but for those who prefer to sharpen their presentations with fresh material and the spice of controversy, this is a book which should be on the shelf and kept within easy reach.' Philip H. Brodie, Edininburgh Law Review 13 (2009) 534. `Review from previous edition 'A valuable contribution to the subject.'' Lord Hoffmann, from the Foreword `Torts and Rights is full of stimulating and provocative analysis and argument, both descriptive and normative. It deserves a large and wide audience.' Peter Cane, Modern Law Review `In Torts and Rights, Stevens has taken the claim of rights-based theorists one step further and in a far-ranging tour de force shows how most of the well-recognised torts can be understood from this perspective.' JW Neyers, King's Law Journal `Whilst Stevens' audience may not find themselves in agreement with all of his conclusions, few will be able to deny the coherence of his presentation or the clarity of his reasoning. Its impact on the law of torts is bound to be significant; tort lawyers, you have been warned.' Sarah Green, Cambridge Law Journal `Packed with a host of valuable insights.' John Murphy, Oxford Journal of Legal Studies `A much clearer and rational analysis of the structure of tort law.' Simon Douglas, Law Quarterly Review This intelligent and ambitious book is going to influence deeply future discourse. `It may not be the text for a practitioner who looks for his law to be pre-processed in such a way that with a minimum amount of warming up and nothing in the way of elaboration it can be served up to the bench and found palatable, but for those who prefer to sharpen their presentations with fresh material and the spice controversy, this is a book which should be on the shelf and kept within easy reach.' Edinburgh Law Review

Devises an entirely new theory which reconceives the law of torts Comparative analysis of primary materials from all the major common law legal systems Covers a central area of practice and study for all lawyers

Professor Robert Stevens joined the faculty of Laws at UCL in July 2007. Previously he had been a lecturer in law at the University of Oxford and a Fellow and Tutor in Law at Lady Margaret Hall where he had taught from 1994. He has also lectured at the Universities of Nijmegen and Leiden and for the Judicial Studies Board. He is a commercial barrister. He has published widely on many aspects of private law, always seeking to show how the theory of academic law has practical relevance to the law as found in the courts.

Devises an entirely new theory which reconceives the law of torts Comparative analysis of primary materials from all the major common law legal systems Covers a central area of practice and study for all lawyers