An Environmental History of Britain

Traces the intellectual roots of the environment movement in terms of its scientific, economic and aesthetic aspects. It examines industrial pollution of land, air and water; action taken to prevent further damage; and economic implications of using up exhaustible resources.

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The present and future state of the environment gives rise to ever increasing concern, but much less is known as yet about the past: the damage that has been done since, and by, the Industrial Revolution; how far our predecessors were aware of it; the steps they took; and the gradual development of a wider concern for the state of the world and our impact on it. This timely and pioneering survey, designed for general readers as well as students and scholars, is a substantial contribution to that understanding.