Marc Mierowsky is an ARC DECRA Fellow and Lecturer in English at the University of Melbourne, where he researches seventeenth- and eighteenth-century literature and intellectual history. He is an associate editor of The Cambridge Edition of the Correspondence of Daniel Defoe and coeditor of Oxford World's Classics edition of The Fortunate Mistress [Roxana].

“A superb account of a complex episode in the history of the United Kingdom. Mr. Mierowsky writes history with the pace and plot twists of a thriller. This exceptional debut should be ranked among the outstanding books of the year.”—Crawford Gribben, Wall Street Journal“Detailed, thrilling . . . exceptional.”—Stuart Kelly, Scotsman“The author has tackled a remarkably complex subject, explaining late 17th- and early 18th-century mores, political manoeuvres, and clandestine tactics with great dexterity . . . Mierowsky has helped me to understand not just the role Daniel Defoe played in Scotland’s history, but also why those blue-and-white flags still proudly fly.”—Military History Matters“Mierowsky tells a fluent and exciting story where one might expect unknowability, hesitation and narrative dead ends. . . [he] brings a new dimension to the historiography of the Union, emphasising back channels and espionage without endorsing the legend of outright bribery and corruption.”—Colin Kidd, London Review of Books“An evocative and occasionally thrilling work of scholarship. Mierowsky is an expert guide to the labyrinthine underworld of early eighteenth-century espionage.”—Joseph Hone, author of The Book Forger: The True Story of a Literary Crime that Fooled the World“This is not only a highly readable account of Defoe’s role as the hired gun of English imperialism during the Union crisis of 1706–7, it is also a good introduction to the dark arts used to make the Union happen. An excellent, and sobering, illustration of the way one man’s personal circumstances can play a vital role in altering the course of history.”—Daniel Szechi, author of 1715: The Great Jacobite Rebellion“Full of original achievements. Mierowsky explores the minute wheels and gears of the accomplishment of the Scottish Union with England, and the network of agents and spies who drove them. The story of Defoe as a master of modern intelligence is highly readable.”—Paula Backscheider, author of Daniel Defoe: His Life“An outstanding exposition of Harley’s spy network in Scotland and the importance of personal relationships to historical change.”—Murray Pittock, author of Scotland: The Global History

Marc Mierowsky is an ARC DECRA Fellow and Lecturer in English at the University of Melbourne, where he researches seventeenth- and eighteenth-century literature and intellectual history. He is an associate editor of The Cambridge Edition of the Correspondence of Daniel Defoe and coeditor of Oxford World's Classics edition of The Fortunate Mistress [Roxana].

“A superb account of a complex episode in the history of the United Kingdom. Mr. Mierowsky writes history with the pace and plot twists of a thriller. This exceptional debut should be ranked among the outstanding books of the year.”—Crawford Gribben, Wall Street Journal“Detailed, thrilling . . . exceptional.”—Stuart Kelly, Scotsman“The author has tackled a remarkably complex subject, explaining late 17th- and early 18th-century mores, political manoeuvres, and clandestine tactics with great dexterity . . . Mierowsky has helped me to understand not just the role Daniel Defoe played in Scotland’s history, but also why those blue-and-white flags still proudly fly.”—Military History Matters“Mierowsky tells a fluent and exciting story where one might expect unknowability, hesitation and narrative dead ends. . . [he] brings a new dimension to the historiography of the Union, emphasising back channels and espionage without endorsing the legend of outright bribery and corruption.”—Colin Kidd, London Review of Books“An evocative and occasionally thrilling work of scholarship. Mierowsky is an expert guide to the labyrinthine underworld of early eighteenth-century espionage.”—Joseph Hone, author of The Book Forger: The True Story of a Literary Crime that Fooled the World“This is not only a highly readable account of Defoe’s role as the hired gun of English imperialism during the Union crisis of 1706–7, it is also a good introduction to the dark arts used to make the Union happen. An excellent, and sobering, illustration of the way one man’s personal circumstances can play a vital role in altering the course of history.”—Daniel Szechi, author of 1715: The Great Jacobite Rebellion“Full of original achievements. Mierowsky explores the minute wheels and gears of the accomplishment of the Scottish Union with England, and the network of agents and spies who drove them. The story of Defoe as a master of modern intelligence is highly readable.”—Paula Backscheider, author of Daniel Defoe: His Life“An outstanding exposition of Harley’s spy network in Scotland and the importance of personal relationships to historical change.”—Murray Pittock, author of Scotland: The Global History

Marc Mierowsky is an ARC DECRA Fellow and Lecturer in English at the University of Melbourne, where he researches seventeenth- and eighteenth-century literature and intellectual history. He is an associate editor of The Cambridge Edition of the Correspondence of Daniel Defoe and coeditor of Oxford World's Classics edition of The Fortunate Mistress [Roxana].

“A superb account of a complex episode in the history of the United Kingdom. Mr. Mierowsky writes history with the pace and plot twists of a thriller. This exceptional debut should be ranked among the outstanding books of the year.”—Crawford Gribben, Wall Street Journal“Detailed, thrilling . . . exceptional.”—Stuart Kelly, Scotsman“The author has tackled a remarkably complex subject, explaining late 17th- and early 18th-century mores, political manoeuvres, and clandestine tactics with great dexterity . . . Mierowsky has helped me to understand not just the role Daniel Defoe played in Scotland’s history, but also why those blue-and-white flags still proudly fly.”—Military History Matters“Mierowsky tells a fluent and exciting story where one might expect unknowability, hesitation and narrative dead ends. . . [he] brings a new dimension to the historiography of the Union, emphasising back channels and espionage without endorsing the legend of outright bribery and corruption.”—Colin Kidd, London Review of Books“An evocative and occasionally thrilling work of scholarship. Mierowsky is an expert guide to the labyrinthine underworld of early eighteenth-century espionage.”—Joseph Hone, author of The Book Forger: The True Story of a Literary Crime that Fooled the World“This is not only a highly readable account of Defoe’s role as the hired gun of English imperialism during the Union crisis of 1706–7, it is also a good introduction to the dark arts used to make the Union happen. An excellent, and sobering, illustration of the way one man’s personal circumstances can play a vital role in altering the course of history.”—Daniel Szechi, author of 1715: The Great Jacobite Rebellion“Full of original achievements. Mierowsky explores the minute wheels and gears of the accomplishment of the Scottish Union with England, and the network of agents and spies who drove them. The story of Defoe as a master of modern intelligence is highly readable.”—Paula Backscheider, author of Daniel Defoe: His Life“An outstanding exposition of Harley’s spy network in Scotland and the importance of personal relationships to historical change.”—Murray Pittock, author of Scotland: The Global History