A book that will disturb the sleep of a good many scholars" Max Eastman
F. A. Hayek's Introduction lays the groundwork for this study of the rise of the factory system in Great Britain. It also examines why historians have been so critical of capitalism and the factory system. The subsequent essays discuss why intellectuals have usually been antagonistic to capitalism and what effect these historical misconceptions have had on the world's attitude toward business enterprise.

* Papers by distinguished British, American and European economic historians including T. S. Ashton, L. M. Hacker and Bertrand de Jouvenel
* Actual case studies of the English factory system and the English factory worker support the theoretical material.