Cromwell (Profiles in Power)

Rating:
Summary: Solid introduction to Cromwell's political career
Review: In spite of dozens of books and virtually hundreds of articles published in specialist journals and dedicated to aspects of his eventful life, Oliver Cromwell is still one of the least understood figures in English history. As is the case with every person of some historical importance, assessments of Cromwell's political ambitions as well as of his successes and failures came to vary greatly over the years, and every new contribution to the understanding of this many-facetted personality thus has to be welcomed.

This book by Barry Coward, originally published in 1991, is one out of a series named "Profiles in Power" and consequently mainly dwells on Cromwell's personal traits and the peculiar circumstances that were to shape both his military and political careers. Indeed, the author barely sums up the social and above all the religious issues that dominated the life of every citizen in mid-seventeenth-century England - which is why anyone ignorant of the historical background will probably find it impossible to grasp most lines of thought as delineated by Mr Coward. By contrast, the book contains a wealth of details on Cromwell's life as a political figure and even proposes to present new information on questions related to his actual political eminence compared to the role played by his council of state. The book then ends with a fine bibliographical essay.

Clearly, this is in the first place a solid introduction to Cromwell the politician, and readers interested in his personal history had better turn to a more comprehensive book.