Cromwell

For nearly 20 years Oliver Cromwell dominated the political arena in England, presiding over a period of extreme political and religious turmoil. A man of contradictions, he was both a deeply religious Puritan as well as an astute military commander, a passionate believer in Parliamentary rights who ruled almost single-handedly as Lord Protector. This book examines the reputation of this complex figure who has aroused such passionate debate, from his early years as "Lord of the Fens" to the five years of his Protectorate. The author considers the crucial questions which are still asked about Cromwell: was he a ruthless and dour military dictator, or the champion of civil liberties in the face of royal tyranny? Or was he simply the "average Englishman writ large", faced with an impossible task? Jessica Saraga is a reviewer for the "Times Educational Supplement" and a tutor at the Open University. She teaches history at the Nonsuch Highschool, Cheam and at Kingston Polytechnic.