Items related to Oliver Cromwell (Reputations)
Oliver Cromwell's greatness has rarely been disputed. He is acknowledged as a colussus, a Promethean figure of English and Irish history. But the nature of that greatness has been subjected to a wide variety of interpretations, often passionately held and running to extremes, depicting him as a figure of great wickedness or great virtue. To make sense of his place in history we have to understand the evolution of his reputation and the purposes served by its various forms. Davis argues that, despite the extremes of interpretation, Cromwell's reputation has never been indefinitely elastic; that there have always been acknowledged facts which had to be faced up to. The evidence, and in some cases the lack of evidence, have to be appreciated contextually. So, Cromwell's rise from 'obscurity', his astonishing success as a soldier, his religion, his eventual dominance as a politician, his success and failure as a statesman are here re-examined in the dual light of his reputation and the context of his times. The result is a fresh and provocative assessment of his life and achievement, his role in the English Revolution and his place in British history.
Oliver Cromwell's greatness has rarely been disputed. He is acknowledged as a colossus, a Promethean figure of English and British history. But the nature of that greatness has been subjected to a wide variety of interpretations, often passionately held and running to extremes, depicting him as a figure of great wickedness or great virtue. To make sense of his place in history we have to understand the evolution of his reputation and the purposes served by its various forms. This book argues that, despite the extremes of interpretation, Cromwell's reputation has never been infinitely elastic; that there have always been acknowledged facts which had to be faced up to. The evidence, and in some cases the lack of evidence, have to be appreciated contextually. So, Cromwell's rise from `obscurity', his astonishing success as a soldier, his religion, his eventual dominance as a politician, his success and failure as a statesman are here re-examined in the dual light of his reputation and the context of his times. The result is a fresh and provocative assessment of his life and achievements, his role in the English Revolution and his place in British history.
Oliver Cromwell's greatness has rarely been disputed. He is acknowledged as a colossus, a Promethean figure of English and British history. But the nature of that greatness has been subjected to a wide variety of interpretations, often passionately held and running to extremes, depicting him as a figure of great wickedness or great virtue. To make sense of his place in history we have to understand the evolution of his reputation and the purposes served by its various forms. This book argues that, despite the extremes of interpretation, Cromwell's reputation has never been infinitely elastic; that there have always been acknowledged facts which had to be faced up to. The evidence, and in some cases the lack of evidence, have to be appreciated contextually. So, Cromwell's rise from `obscurity', his astonishing success as a soldier, his religion, his eventual dominance as a politician, his success and failure as a statesman are here re-examined in the dual light of his reputation and the context of his times. The result is a fresh and provocative assessment of his life and achievements, his role in the English Revolution and his place in British history.
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Review:
Colin Davis brings an unrelenting intelligence to his interrogation of the treacherous sources for the life of Oliver Cromwell, and he demands answers to radical questions. The result is a study that is wonderfully fresh, bold and challenging. It makes for gripping reading. (John Morrill, Professor of British and Irish Histo)
Overall, this book is excellent and is a very enjoyable read. Concise and clear, it is a good starting point for those who do not know much about Oliver Cromwell. However, for those with more knowledge it offers new and often valuable insigts into the man and includes all the latest historical research. I can thoroughly recommend this book. (Journal of the Sealed Knot Society)
Although other historians have already provided recent and easily accessible studies of Cromwell...Davis's is distinctively different and will undoubtedly find new readers. (Times Higher Education Supplement)
This is throughout a subtle and interesting study, which crisply advances a range of familiar and not-so-familiar interpretations, most of them well-argued and convincing. (English Historical Review 2003-01-13)
Throughout, Davis's grip is firm, enhancing his own reputation as a historian along with Cromwell's historical one. (History 2002-07-01)
Synopsis:
Overall, this book is excellent and is a very enjoyable read. Concise and clear, it is a good starting point for those who do not know much about Oliver Cromwell. However, for those with more knowledge it offers new and often valuable insigts into the man and includes all the latest historical research. I can thoroughly recommend this book. (Journal of the Sealed Knot Society)
Although other historians have already provided recent and easily accessible studies of Cromwell...Davis's is distinctively different and will undoubtedly find new readers. (Times Higher Education Supplement)
This is throughout a subtle and interesting study, which crisply advances a range of familiar and not-so-familiar interpretations, most of them well-argued and convincing. (English Historical Review 2003-01-13)
Throughout, Davis's grip is firm, enhancing his own reputation as a historian along with Cromwell's historical one. (History 2002-07-01)
Cromwell is a key figure in English, Irish, and Scottish history. The deep-rooted controversies that surround him make an examination of his reputation particularly fruitful: at one extreme blood-stained regicide, at the other "God's Englishman". The author examines a number of themes: Cromwell's rise from obscurity to Lord Protector; the nature and effect of his military achievements; his religious beliefs; his political role; and his attempt to build a new state. Each of these themes carries a vortex of debate that the author evaluates before offering his own views on how the debate should move forward and, where necessary, change direction.
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- PublisherHodder Education
- Publication date2001
- ISBN 10 0340731176
- ISBN 13 9780340731178
- BindingHardcover
- Number of pages256
- Rating
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