In 1792, amidst the threat of war with France, ‘Loyal Briton’ societies emerged across Britain, aiming to defend the established order and form patriotic defense forces. Using diaries and archival sources, this book explores this phenomenon, revealing these volunteers bands as not just local defense forces but a societal militarization reminiscent of later conflicts in the twentieth century.

This interesting and well-researched book is full of detailed information but also provides a fascinating overview of how the organization of men for military purposes led to organizations that pushed for reform.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.