Alleviating Mistakes

'...an elegant and scholarly inquiry on the kind of mistakes that entitle thosewho commit them to seek relief from the courts of the unfortunateconsequences of their action. This work is organized around three mainparts: first, alleviating mistakes are distinguished from the myriad ofother mishaps, secondly, problems of scepticism and proof of such mistakesare dealt with; and finally, factors which influence the availability ofrelief are considered. ...a seminal work that no legal scholarinterested in mistakes could afford to do without.''Tang Hang Wu, Assistant Professor, National University of SingaporeE. Allan Farnsworth is one the most influential and admired scholars in the field of civil obligation, and in this lively and engrossing book, he offers a new analysis and fresh meditation for the topic of mistakes – flawed estimations of reality – and their role in negating responsibility for both intentional offenses and consensual obligations. Bristling with perspicuous quotations from literature and psychology, informed by telling legal vignettes… not only a masterful synthesis but also a terrific narrative filled with the illustrative detail and human interest that make legal abstractions meaningful for all readers… a wonderfully originalstudy that provides a lively and lucid account of the connections – heretofore little noted or noticed – between the notions of “mistake” operative in various legal contexts.‘James Etienne Viator, Adams & Reese Distinguished Professor of Civil Law Loyola University (New Orleans) School of Law

E. Allan Farnsworth is Alfred MacCormack Professor of Law at Columbia University.