This scholarly work, Harm's Way, examines the intricate relationship between accident, injury, and responsibility as depicted in the realist novel from the late seventeenth to the early nineteenth century. The author analyzes various literary works, including those by Defoe, Richardson, Fielding, and Sheridan, alongside legal concepts like strict liability, felony murder, and deodand. By exploring these connections, the book argues that the novel form grapples with questions of accountability in situations where intention and fault are ambiguous. Ultimately, the study illuminates how these literary and legal frameworks shape our understanding of personhood and responsibility in the face of unintended harm.