This book reflects the belief that a careful study of the Law of Attempts should be both interesting in itself, as well as being a productive route into a number of larger and deeper issues in criminal law theory and in the philosophy of action. By identifying the legal doctrines which courts and legislatures have developed or adopted, the author goes on to ask whether and how they can be rationalized or rendered persuasive. Such an approach involves paying detailed attention to cases. The book is also unusual in that it grapples with English, Scots and US law, showing great breadth of research as well as philosophical sophistication. This is a work which is likely to become a seminal study and a major contribution to the study of law and legal philosophy.

This book solidifies Duff's reputation as perhaps the finest theorist of the philosophy of criminal law in the Anglo-American world./... anyone interested in the philosophical foundations of criminal liability must give 'Criminal Attempts' a central place. No more important contribution to the philosophy of criminal law has been made in this decade./ Douglas Husk, Criminal Law Forum.