This first book dedicated exclusively to the remedy of punitive damages combines empirical, historical and doctrinal analysis to illustrate the practical operation of the remedy, assessing its appropriateness. In part one, the author explores the law and its normative underpinnings. The second part provides an empirical survey of nearly 600 decisions delivered by courts at first instance and on appeal between 1964 and 2020 in England and Wales. The final part examines the main limitations on the availability of punitive damages in light of the normative basis of the remedy.