Patrick Mileham's scholarly and well illustrated history of Britain's cavalry regiments takes the story from early roots in Cromwell's army, through their formation over 350 years ago during the reign of Charles II, and follows their history to the eve of the Second World War. He describes the part they played in Britain’s wars and in peacetime, and he shows their line of descent across the centuries. As he does so, he celebrates the extraordinary continuity of the cavalry spirit which endures as a powerful force in the cavalry regiments of today’s Royal Armoured Corps. Their history forms part of the fabric of British military and social life, and his authoritative study is the perfect guide.     As well as recording the fascinating history of the cavalry regiments, and illustrating it in a sequence of striking and rare images, Patrick Mileham includes succession charts showing the complex sequence of amalgamations and disbandments which has shaped the cavalry to date. So his book is essential reading, both as a graphic account of cavalry and invaluable work of reference for anyone who has a special interest in the history of the cavalry and the British army.