'A well-written treatment of an important topic, which offers an ambitious analysis of the relationship between the right of German townsmen to bear arms and early modern understandings of citizenship, honour and gender.' - Christopher R. Friedrichs, University of British Columbia, Canada

'...admirably-organized and lucidly argued study.' -Peter H. Wilson, University of Hull, German History

'This is a highly original and ground-breaking study that brings to life a key aspect of early modern society...Tlusty is the first to fully investigate this martial ethic as part of German politics -a politics, as she keeps emphasizing, best seen as a practice rather than a set of abstract ideas. The unintended effects of this phenomenon are skilfully brought into view as is its longevity.' - Ulinka Rublack, The Journal of Modern History