Soldiering In Britain And Ireland 1750-1850

The British soldier was feared and respected throughout the world in the period 1750-1850, a time when his victories helped to maintain Britain's security and expand its empire. Strangely, though, his reputation at home was rather more contradictory: the army could be politically distrusted, soldiers often occupied a marginal position in society, and even the manliness of the profession could be called into question.

Men of Arms explores the intriguing figure of the British soldier, and seeks to explore 'soldiering' as an activity, an identity, a career and a way of life. Chapters explore the role of social class, political radicalism and national identities, and think about soldiers as combatants, as tourists, as family men and as citizens.

In so doing, the book offers fresh approaches to the study of warfare in this fascinating period of history. Review: Readers will find literary and artistic analyses standing beside more conventional methods of investigation...it offers a fascinating glimpse into the potential for apply socio-cultural analyses to the Georgian-era British military establishment. - Patrick J.

Speelman, US Merchant Marine Academy, Journal of Military History