Ashworth's Principles of Criminal Law, now in its eight edition, takes a distinctly different approach to the study of criminal law, whilst still covering all of the vital topics found on criminal law courses. Uniquely theoretical, it seeks to elucidate the underlying principles and theoretical foundations of the criminal law, and aims to critically engage readers by contextualizing and analysing the law.This is essential reading for students seeking a sophisticated and critically engaging exploration of the subject.The text is accompanied by an Online Resource Centre housing a full bibliography as well as a selection of useful web links.