Oliver cromwell of england biography book

How did you first get involved with studying Cromwell?

I was inspired by a schoolmaster, when I was still at high school. He himself was very interested in the Civil War – he was more interested in regional conduct, but he introduced me to the figure of Oliver Cromwell.

Then, when I was an undergraduate, I did a long essay on the allegiance of the Civil War, which also brought me closer to Cromwell, and I’ve been studying him – well, he’s been on my agenda – for a long time.

Cromwell of england

In recent years, I’ve really made him the centrepiece of my work.

When I was at Cambridge, the module that covered Cromwell’s reign was by far the most popular for history students. Why do you think people find Cromwell so charismatic?

He’s still someone who arouses very strong feelings. On the one hand, he represents a very precocious commitment to religious liberty and a government accountable to the people; on the other, he is seen as someone who used excessive viole