Trading with the Enemy: Britain, France, and the 18th Century Quest for a Peaceful World Order: by John Shovlin, New Haven, Conn, Yale University Press, 2021, 416 pp., $35, ISBN 9780300258837.

"Trading with the Enemy: Britain, France, and the 18th Century Quest for a Peaceful World Order" by John Shovlin is a comprehensive and innovative book that explores the formation and contestation of commercial policy in 18th-century Britain and France. The author challenges the assumption of a persistent rivalry between the two countries and argues that peace parties existed within the political and mercantile elites of both states. Shovlin also examines the role of colonialism and mercantile capitalism in shaping the relationship between states and merchants, highlighting the delicate balance between their interests. The book provides a nuanced understanding of how mercantile capitalism and international order were co-constituted during this period. [Extracted from the article]