Chivalry, one of Shakespeare's central themes, retains its pertinence and topicality in our rules for international humanitarian law and the conduct of war. Against a background of Medieval and Renaissance sources as well as Shakespeare's historical and dramatic realms, Professor Meron considers the ways in which law, chivalry, morality, conscience, and state necessity are deployed in Shakespeare to promote a society in which soldiers behave humanely and leaders are held to high standards of civilized behavior. In doing so, he illustrates the literary genealogy of such contemporary international humanitarian concerns as the treatment of prisoners and of women and accountability for war crimes. An insightful consideration of modern humanitarian law as seen from the perspectives of both Shakespeare and history, Bloody Constraint will also interest students of Medieval and Renaissance studies.

"Meron's language is clear and accessible, and he provides background information that places his ideas in context...A useful supplement to larger public and academic libraries with Shakespeare and military history collections."--Library Journal "A scholar of international law with interests in human rights, history, and Shakespeare, Meron has written one of the best, a book that will interest readers in these areas and beyond....Highly recommended for readers at all levels in numerous disciplines beyond literature."--Choice "This is an attractively written and very readable book....No better guide could be found than Meron's book."--The American Journal of International Law "Meron's language is clear and accessible, and he provides background information that places his ideas in context."--Library Journal "A remarkable book....Demonstrates not only a mastery of Shakespeare's canon, but also a thorough knowledge of the Bard's sources and contemporaries. The book is exhaustively documented, argued with balance, and absorbing to read. If one reads Bloody Constraint with the spirit of Meron's thesis, namely seeking inspiration rather than technical direction, it is nearly faultless."--International law and Politics "This is an attractively written and very readable book....No better guide could be found than Meron's book."--The American Journal of International Law "Meron's language is clear and accessible, and he provides background information that places his ideas in context...A useful supplement to larger public and academic libraries with Shakespeare and military history collections."--Library Journal "A scholar of international law with interests in human rights, history, and Shakespeare, Meron has written one of the best, a book that will interest readers in these areas and beyond....Highly recommended for readers at all levels in numerous disciplines beyond literature."--Choice "This is an attractively written and very readable book....No better guide could be found than Meron's book."--The American Journal of International Law "Meron's language is clear and accessible, and he provides background information that places his ideas in context."--Library Journal "A remarkable book....Demonstrates not only a mastery of Shakespeare's canon, but also a thorough knowledge of the Bard's sources and contemporaries. The book is exhaustively documented, argued with balance, and absorbing to read. If one reads Bloody Constraint with the spirit of Meron's thesis, namely seeking inspiration rather than technical direction, it is nearly faultless."--International law and Politics

Theodor Meron is a prominent scholar of international law. He is also the author of Henry's Wars and Shakespeare's Laws (OUP, 1994), among many other books.