williams' "textbook of criminal law" (london: steven & sons, 1983) is on a united states list of the most cited legal books. the "textbook of criminal law", was arguably his best work, as he drew on 50 years of expertise in the area. williams was well into his seventies when he wrote the 1983 volume. it is a magisterial book written in socratic style. williams published article after article in top refereed journals, even in his eighties. he was arguably the greatest legal thinker of the twentieth century. his groundbreaking "criminal law: the general part" (steven & sons, london, 1961) is a classic still widely read and cited. similarly, his "textbook of criminal law", remains a standard textbook for judges, barristers, professors and students.