This work investigates the historical development of English contract law, specifically focusing on the emergence and evolution of the action of assumpsit. A. W. B. Simpson, a distinguished legal historian, utilizes a doctrinal approach to trace the transformation of legal remedies from the 14th century through the enactment of the Statute of Frauds in 1677. By analyzing the procedural shifts within the common law system, the author provides a framework for understanding how modern contractual doctrines originated and solidified over several centuries.

Legal scholars and historians frequently cite this text as a foundational resource for understanding the technical evolution of contract law. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which is intended for those with a background in legal history or jurisprudence.