The Cambridge Extra Mural Board, which celebrated its centenary in 1973, was the first extra-mural department in any university, and is important both as a pioneer, much copied elsewhere, and because it was instrumental in the founding of other kinds of institution, including university colleges. Dr Welch has written a detailed history of the board and its predecessor, the Local Lectures Syndicate, based primarily on the archive material at Stuart House, Cambridge. The book will interest social and educational historians and those actively concerned with adult education.

This is Volume II of twenty-eight in a series on the Sociology of Education. Originally published in 1958, this is a comparative study of adult education in that starts with a historical review of the provision in England before 1850, between the Wars and beyond as well as delving into the characterises and personality of the adult student. The author’s travels to the United States, Germany, the West Indies, Australia, the Middle East, Scandinavia, India, China and East Africa extends the study with examples of these countries and systems. All of which has convinced the author that educational problems for the future must be regarded as world problems; and this applies in particular to the problems of adult education. It is in this latter field that we have most to learn from each other and, in the process, most to contribute to international understanding.