Subtitled : An Introduction for the General Reader. Sir Henry Clay was a distinguished economist in the U.K, and professor at Manchester University where he established businessman's lunch clubs. He originally read Literae Humaniores ( Classical languages and civilisation ) at Oxford, so this is a well written book in the style of its age! He came to the subject from a business background: his father was a wool merchant originally from Bradford but who had worked in Germany. It considers the subject from a wide viewpoint and includes moral discussions. It is out off date in some ways - considering England as a great manufacturer and having an empire! - but it covers the principles well. It singularly does not use figures, but relies on verbal description. It is a fascinating reminder of the purpose of economics as well as a description of its limitations!