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After laying out her thesis in the introduction, Colley dedicates each chapter to a specific theme. In Chapter 1, she argues that Protestantism played an important role in forming the British identity, as the wars against French were increasingly viewed as religious wars. In Chapter 2, she discusses the role of profit and how investing in British patriotism became profitable in a rising commercial economy. In the next two chapters, Colley talks about empire-builders who came together for an imperial project around the world. For example, the Scots contributed significantly to the formation of the British identity by becoming model imperialists. It might be noted here that the role of Irish might not support Colley's overall thesis -- the Irish, like the French, were Catholics, after all -- but Colley does not discuss the Irish much in these chapters.

In chapter "Majesty," Colley argues that with George III in the late eighteen-century, the British began to define royal culture as interlinked with patriotism. The royal family became a focus of patriotic attention and George III was beloved by his people. In chapter "Womanpower," Colley brings the readers' attention to the role of ordinary women who became active participants in defining national identity. Women, she argues, were not confined to the household but became increasingly vocal about their role in the society. In "Manpower," Colley discusses how joining the war efforts against foreign invaders became a symbol of patriotism, especially for the Scots and Welshmen who also thought economic benefits in this endeavor.

The final chapter and the conclusion deal with the reforms of the early eighteenth century and the early Victorian era. The British passed the Catholic emancipation, compromising Protestantism's role in cementing British identity (p. 361), but the British also passed several other reforms, most importantly the abolition of slavery. This allowed the British to see themselves as distinct and superior from the rest of Europe and the United States. Colley concludes that the reforms were possible primarily due to wars the British were engaged. She adds that another set of sweeping reforms would not be possible until the wars of the twentieth century (women's suffrage in 1918 and the establishment of the welfare state in 1950s). Though provocative, her conclusion is convincing.