This volume contains a selection of the invited papers presented at a LMS Durham Symposium on modern developments in non-classical continuum mechanics. A major aim was to bring together workers in both the abstract and practical aspects of the subject in order to achieve enhanced appreciation of each others' approach and hence of the mathematical techniques and physical intuition essential for successful research in this field. As a result, the present collection consists of a series of concise articles which are introductions to, and succinct accounts of, current activity in many branches of non-classical continuum mechanics. Research workers in applied mathematics, physics, theoretical mechanics, and structural and aeronautical engineering will find much of interest in this collection.