Author

Cesare Beccaria

About Cesare Beccaria

Cesare Beccaria (1738–1794) was a Milanese nobleman, economist and legal reformer. Encouraged by the brothers Pietro and Alessandro Verri and their circle, he wrote On Crimes and Punishments in his mid-twenties. He later taught political economy in Milan and served for many years in the Austrian administration of Lombardy.

On this site

On Crimes and Punishments

Cesare Beccaria

1764; English translation by James Anson Farrer, 1880 · 18th Century · Political Theory

On Crimes and Punishments (Dei delitti e delle pene) is a short Italian treatise that became one of the most influential books in the history of criminal law. Cesare Beccaria published it anonymously at Livorno in 1764.

low medical relevanceJustice LawCrime / PunishmentPower / Politics