A starting book on Royal Navy cruiser design

What is a good book on Royal Navy cruiser design and the environment that shaped it?

Norman Friedman's British Cruisers is imperfect, but it is the best available option in this assessment.

Norman Friedman's British Cruisers is the suggested study of Royal Navy cruiser design and its operating environment. The book is imperfect, making the recommendation comparative rather than unqualified. Even with those limitations, it is better than the available alternatives for this subject. The volume is a strong starting point rather than the final word on British cruiser development.