War and the Law of Nations

The scope of Neff's project is majestic, and his scholarly rigor in marshalling evidence on the subject of war from antiquity to today's war on terrorism is impressive. The book is written in an engaging manner likely to appeal to both law of war experts and generalists alike. Neff does not oversimplify, however, and handles even complex legal questions in a sophisticated and nuanced manner. He accordingly makes a substantial contribution to our understanding of the phenomenon of war.' Allen S. Weiner, The American Journal of International Law '[Neff's] latest book is a spirited and enlightening addition to this literature ... The narrative, written with brio and wit, is a delt synthesis of a seemingly vast array of state practice and scholarly doctrine stretching over many centuries. Of particular interest, originality and value is Neff's treatment of 'imperfect wars' or 'measures short of war' ... spirited and sparkling book, which thoroughly deserved its Honourable Mention in the 2007 American Society of International law book prizes.