The automobile was perfected in 1829 and ran well on English roads. Who prevented its development? Was it the railway entrepreneurs? Was it the landed interests? Was it the free-traders? The same interests prevented its development in Europe and in America. Beasley takes you from the beginning through these various factions into the railway and banking conflicts to the 1890's when the automobile is allowed to develop in France. Why was it developed as the petroleum car and why was the steam car discouraged? Along the way Beasley demonstrates a unique theory of invention.
