The main text of this book takes the form of a historical narrative, based upon close examination of documentary records, which tells the story of the public debate over embryo research in Britain. I have tried to provide a richly descriptive account of the debate which is informed by the relevant academic literature, but which is not encumbered by constant reference to academic issues and which is directly accessible to readers with no knowledge of that literature.

A straightforward narrative form is well suited to the topic of the embryo research debate. But it is by no means the only formal framework that may be used to throw light on this sequence of events. Indeed, my first, preliminary, attempt to explore the debate was written in the quite different form of a dream fantasy. I have included this alternative portrayal as an epilogue to the main text, in the hope that its unusual format will encourage readers to examine their own views on the social and moral significance of scientific research involving human embryos, and to reflect on the story presented in the preceding chapters.

This book re-examines, and places in a wider context, some of the findings I have presented in a series of articles published between 1993 and 1996. Several of the topics covered in those articles have been omitted from the book, however, whilst some of the arguments have been revised and a substantial amount of new material has been introduced.