This impressive work, by an Auschwitz survivor and lifelong campaigner for human rights, first reviews earlier attempts since Nuremberg to devise international mechanisms to deal with crimes against humanity, then examines the events in Bosnia and Rwanda which led to the creation of the special tribunals at The Hague which, the author hopes, may lead to the establishment of a permanent International Criminal Court (although, in the former Yugoslav case, Neier argues that setting up the Tribunal was the right decision for the wrong reason, since it was in large part a substitute for decisive action to prevent the crimes). Specific chapters are devoted to concentration camps, siege warfare, rape, incitement to mass murder, and guilt, and the whole work constitutes a powerful argument in favour of the Tribunals, concluding that: 'for the first time in human history, those committing war crimes, crimes against humanity, or the ultimate crime, genocide, would have to reckon seriously with the possibility that they would be brought before the international bar to face truth, be held accountable, and serve justice.'

With the carnage in Kosovo now at an end, there is no better time to pick up this book - Mr. Neier is an objective, humane authority who mixes outrage and common sense in a tasteful and comprensive discussion of war crimes, international law, and preventive measures.