In A History of British Motorways, Dr Charlesworth presents a fascinating account of the way political and social attitudes concerning motorways have evolved. He describes the early road policies before and between the two World Wars and goes on to cover the building accelerated in the 1960s; however, during the 1970s objections began to be raised on environmental and social grounds. these, coupled with the oil crisis of 1973/4 and the general downturn in the economy, reduced the progress that was being made. As well as describing the inividual motorways in England, Soctland and Wales, with a separate chapter on urban motorways, the author considers the design and planning, usage and socio-economic aspects of motorways.