Publisher's Synopsis
This is a title from a series of interpretative books which analyze the major features of the careers of key political figures in world history since 1500.;The English Civil War, with Cromwell at the heart of it, remains the most intensively studied period of English history on student courses, yet for all the countless studies that have been published about him, Oliver Cromwell remains a deeply puzzling and controversial figure. Many historical problems connected with his political career still await satisfactory explanation. In this book Barry Coward suggests answers to a number of these problems.;The chronological format synthesizes the fresh interpretations of 17th-century British history that have appeared.;It analyzes the apparent contradictions of Cromwell's character and career: what was it that caused him to act at times with such agonizing indecisiveness, and on other occasions to take such awesome risks, apparently in complete disregard of his own political future and personal safety?;In answering these questions the text returns to the original source - much use is made of Cromwell's own words throughout, to highlight the way his political and religious aims remained the bedrock of his ambitions until the end of his life.
