JOURNAL ARTICLE

A Spy Amongst Us: Daniel Defoe's Secret Service and the Plot to End Scottish Independence.

  • Published In: Military History Matters, 2026, n. 152. P. 52 1 of 3

  • Database: History Reference Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: MERCER, PATRICK 3 of 3

Abstract

This article reviews a book that explores Daniel Defoe’s multifaceted role as a novelist, political pamphleteer, and secret agent for the British Crown during the early 18th century. It highlights Defoe’s involvement in espionage targeting Scotland amid complex political tensions preceding the 1707 Union between Scotland and England, including his creation of an informer network and efforts to counter Jacobite opposition. The review also details Scotland’s fraught economic and political landscape at the time, such as the failed Darién colony and competing loyalties between unionists and Jacobites. Through this historical analysis, the book sheds light on Defoe’s influence on British intelligence and the enduring roots of Scottish nationalism. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:Military History Matters. 2026/06, Issue 152, p52
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Literature and Writing
  • Publication Date:2026
  • ISSN:2631-990X
  • Accession Number:193668341
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