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The Making of Oliver Cromwell

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The Making of Oliver Cromwell

By: Ronald Hutton
Narrated by: Michael Page
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The first volume in a pioneering account of Oliver Cromwell - providing a major new interpretation of one of the greatest figures in history.

Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658) - the only English commoner to become the overall head of state - is one of the great figures of history, but his character was very complex. He was at once courageous and devout, devious and self-serving; as a parliamentarian, he was devoted to his cause; as a soldier, he was ruthless. Cromwell's speeches and writings surpass in quantity those of any other ruler of England before Victoria, and, for those seeking to understand him, he has usually been taken at his word.

In this remarkable new work, Ronald Hutton untangles the facts from the fiction. Cromwell, pursuing his devotion to God and cementing his Puritan support base, quickly transformed from obscure provincial to military victor. At the end of the first English Civil War, he was poised to take power. Hutton reveals a man who was both genuine in his faith and deliberate in his dishonesty - and uncovers the inner workings of the man who has puzzled biographers for centuries.

©2021 Ronald Hutton (P)2021 Tantor Europe Great Britain Historical Politicians Politics & Activism England War
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I valued the insight given to Cromwell’s emerging character, and also the detail of the actions in which he was engaged, and from the different viewpoints of those involved. I appreciated the author’s care to declare the limitations of the sources he has used, giving confidence in his objectivity. I learnt a lot that I had not understood from more general accounts of the period, and this made it well worth a listen.
The author’s style is rather formal, made more by this reading, and this is rather at odds with the frequent asides about the season’s flowers, the state of the weather and geology, but these serve to punctuate the string of military actions, and on reflection, these asides were helpful if rather incongruous.
One recommendation is to have an atlas to hand (unless your knowledge of England’s geography is exceptional). The distances covered by the Civil War campaigns were extraordinary.

Well worth reading

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I found this book to be full of interesting facts and well researched detail. The narration was a little monotone, but an achievement with the level of detail that needed to be put across. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Recommended.

A little fry butfry but Excellent

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Hutton has a great style, I found the book most interesting when describing Cromwell's life off the battlefield.

Very Good

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From only knowing of Cromwell in a film adaptation of the English civil war, it was great to find out how it all started and his role in it. The final battles were excellently read as to build up the excitement and drama.
Well worth a listen, one can only imagine how much work these writers and historians put in for our enjoyment.

Extremely informative and exciting

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A good overall book about the man covering his personal, political and military life as well as a good general history of the English Civil War ..

Worth a listen to if you want a general introduction to the period .

Lots of details and dates

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