Carradice, Phil Oliver Cromwel

Statesman, Politician & Soldier

Oliver Cromwell ranks among the most famous figures in British and European history. As a soldier, general, statesman, and politician, he is remembered by many as the man who overthrew a king and ruled in his placenot as a monarch, but as "Lord Protector." Cromwell was a complex figure and a committed Independent Puritan; his final words were simply, "I have done my duty." His untimely deathlikely the result of months of campaigning and marching in harsh weatherdeprived the country of a capable ruler, albeit one who had little patience for folly. Always conscious of his duty, Cromwell viewed his successeswhether on the battlefield or in parliamentary debateas the work of God. As Britain's only non-royal leader, he holds an almost mythical status; his policies and ideas played a pivotal role in the establishment and development of democracy in the country. Cromwell was devoid of vanity or ego; he once instructed a portrait painter to depict him "warts and all"a directive the artist duly followed. The book examines Cromwell's adversaries, from King Charles to the Duke of Buckingham, placing their attitudes and actions within their historical context. It analyzes the decisive battles of the Civil War, as well as their impact and aftermath. Above all, it captures the atmosphere of post-Tudor Britain and acknowledges Cromwell's role in creating the first British Commonwealth. Phil Carradice portrays Cromwell's life and times with his characteristic elegance and accessibilityoffering a detailed, comprehensive, and compelling look at this historical figure.