Oliver Cromwell

Oliver Cromwell is one of the most recognised figures in British and European history. A soldier, a General, a Statesman, and a Politician, he is known by many as the man who killed a King and ruled in his place, not as a monarch but as Lord Protector. A man of many parts, Oliver Cromwell was a practicing Independent Puritan whose final words were simply 'I have done my duty.' His early death, probably caused by months of campaigning and marching in foul weather, robbed the country of a fine ruler, albeit one who would never tolerate fools gladly. Never one to shirk his duty, Cromwell was sure that his success in both battle and Parliamentary debate was down to God. As the only non-royal leader of Britain, he holds an almost mystical position where his policies and ideas helped to found and develop democracy in this country. Never self-indulgent or egotistical, Cromwell once told a portrait painter to produce his likeness, 'warts and all.' The artist duly obliged. The book examines Cromwell's enemies, from King Charles to the Duke of Buckingham, and places their attitudes and behaviour in the context of the times. It analyses the primary battles of the Civil War, their effect and consequences. Above all, it catches the mood of post-Tudor Britain and the part played by Cromwell in creating Britain's first Commonwealth. This candid and compelling look at Cromwell's life and times is detailed and wide-reaching, written by Phil Carradice in his usual elegant and easy style.