in fact, his range as a writer went far beyond the criminal law. before turning to the criminal law, williams had already written what are still the definitive books on a range of other important legal subjects: liability for animals (1939), the law reform (frustrated contracts) acts (1943) (1945), crown proceedings (1948), joint obligations (1949), and joint torts and contributory negligence (1950). in 1947 he had edited salmond's jurisprudence.