The Economic History Society commissioned this series which aims to provide a guide to current interpretations of the key themes of economic and social history in which advances have been made or in which there has been significant debate. The books are intended to be a springboard to futher reading rather than a set of pre-packaged conclusions. This is an introduction and survey to the current state of scholarship concerning the history of the Industrial Revolution. It covers such topics as the cotton industry, entrepreneurship and enclosures in Britain, aiming to give readers access to the best work done in the field and help them draw their own conclusions.