Originally published during the early part of the twentieth century, the Cambridge Manuals of Science and Literature were designed to provide concise introductions to a broad range of topics. They were written by experts for the general reader and combined a comprehensive approach to knowledge with an emphasis on accessibility. The Natural History of Clay by Alfred B. Searle was first published in 1912. The book contains an account of the origins and properties of clays, incorporating information on their chemical and physical characteristics.