This is the first volume of a comprehensive history of British Petroleum, which covers the history of the company from its origin up to 1975. Volume one covers the years 1901–32 and deals with the earlier years of the D'Arcy Concession from its granting in 1901 by the Shah of Persia, to the discovery of oil in 1908, the formation of the company in 1909 and its formative years until the cancellation of the concession in 1932. Dr Ferrier places the origin and growth of the company not only within the context of the oil industry but in the wider perspective of the evolving energy requirements in the twentieth century. This History has been based firmly on the evidence from contemporary records. The company archives have proved much indispensable and often hitherto unknown information.