The book is divided into four main sections, covering the defenses of provocation, diminished responsibility, excessive self-defense, and intoxication. The first part contains five essays regarding provocation as a partial justification, not a partial excuse; the abolition of provocation; provocation or self-defense for battered women who kill; provocation in New Zealand; and contemporary provocation law. The section on diminished responsibility contains three essays, including a critique of diminished responsibility and several individuals' viewpoints on the defense. The third section reviews applying excuse theory to excessive self-defense, excessive self-defense in Australia, and excessive defense in Irish law. The fourth section reviews manslaughter and intoxication, the Australian perspective on intoxication defenses, and medical aspects of intoxication. A final section comments on the law of self-defense, critically analyzes the various partial excuses to murder, and proposes a more holistic approach to this area of the law. Table of cases, notes, postscript, index of cases