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Oliver Cromwell
NEW HARDCOVER WITH NEAR NEW DUST JACKET.. SHIPS FROM WA- USPS. EXPEDITED SHIPPING AVAILABLE. 1994, BARNES & NOBLE. Biography; Biography & Autobiography; Cromwell, Oliver; England; Europe; Great Britain; Historical; History; Kings and rulers; Non-Fiction; Renaissance
128 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 1939
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About the author
C.V. Wedgwood
49 books79 followersDame (Cicely) Veronica Wedgwood OM DBE was an English historian who published under the name C. V. Wedgwood. Specializing in the history of 17th-century England and Continental Europe, her biographies and narrative histories "provided a clear, entertaining middle ground between popular and scholarly works."
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 20, 2024
The Very Model of a Modern Major General
The model of a modern general biography that is. This book is a very condensed but highly readable account of Cromwell written to fit into the Gerald Duckworth & Co., Ltd Great Lives series which ran from 1933 – 1965. It was offered as an affordable option for home libraries at a time when people bought and read books and actually maintained home libraries. This edition, originally written in 1939 in the dark shadow of European dictatorship is relevant in 2024 in the shadow of American Christian unreality. The soldier-statemen Cromwell put an end to the ruinous English Civil War, restored peace at home and created respect abroad, but at great cost. The dangerous parallel to our own time that I see is in the religious commitments of a political leaders where prayer is substituted for thought and trust in God is substituted for use of reason.
Divine Justification for Political Action
I think of the English Civil War (1642 – 1652) as another front in the Thirty Years’ War (1618 – 1648). Both were political/religious wars fought using similar tactics, brutality and cruelty that can only be employed when one is acting with divine purpose as the chosen instrument of God to fight the Lord’s battles where success is proof that any action, no matter how cruel or barbaric, is pleasing to God. There can be no crime for one who acts in the service of the Lord. There is nothing better for one’s belief in their own confidence as a belief in divine guidance. As such, I thus read this book to get some insight into the religious-political mindset. Our current political moment is dominated by minds that belong in the seventeenth century. The mixing of religion with politics, nay the intrusion of religion into politics, to advance a theocratic agenda, once thought unthinkable, is now the currency of the Trump realm. The Republican Party is now the nursery of religious fundamentalism and dogmatic extremism, a home for religious zealots as well as political cowards. Just as in the seventeenth century of Oliver Cromwell, the incoming members and supporters of the Trump administration believe they will succeed because they are directly guided by divine will and that by following divine will they must succeed. This is typical circuitous Christian clownish circular nonsense. Belief in fantasies and in worlds that do not exist is a key feature of religion. It is no wonder that Christians voted for Trump and his gang of oligarchs. This is madness. But based on this madness, the Christian zealots are demanding the radical reorganization of society. A mind adjusted to prayer is one unadjusted to life in the world. For example, there is the belief that all souls are equal before God, so we need not worry about injustice in the world. Needless to say, this is a monstrous false equivalency fallacy based on superstitious beliefs and fiction. The bitter fanatism of Christian Fundamentalism is incapable of intellectual enlargement. In looking at the seventeenth century this is at least comprehensible, but in the twenty-first century it is inexcusable.
Runaway Religion
Interestingly, the three primary causes of the English Civil War identified by Veronica Wedgwood can be seen in the U.S., viz., 1) Administrative (the role of the government in providing services to its citizens), 2) Economic (the exercise of political power through financial control), Religious (the imposition of a single religious view on society). In the seventeenth century, religious unrest was a primary cause the English Civil War as well as the Thirty Years’ War. Religion is often the cause on unrest, violence, bigotry and war and I see the same dynamic at work in the U.S. with Christian Nationalism and Evangelical Christian Fundamentalism. Religious believers are only tolerant of opinions that can be reconciled to their own. The U.S. is currently in the midst of runaway religion as was England and Central Europe in the seventeenth century. Just as Oliver Crowell was sure that he was doing the will of God, and heard the voice of God, so too are such retrograde figures in the Trump administration as Russell Vought and potentially Pete Hegseth. Ironically though, in practice at least, Cromwell, apart from his anti-Catholic policy in Ireland, was much more moderate than our current crop of Christian Fundamentalists. We are again entering a period where religious issues drive political outcomes but few public commentators, and no political leaders, will speak about this antisocial movement. This is a measure of how intimidated they are by the Americans who take ludicrous Christian superstitions seriously. But these same delusional and dangerous people are growing more arrogant, intolerant, emboldened, and confident in their beliefs as a result of 2024 election. Then as now, politics interwoven with religious convictions is antithetical to civil society which, then as now, is always a pernicious thing. Then as now, the superstitions of Christianity are sought to address real political, social, and economic issues.
The model of a modern general biography that is. This book is a very condensed but highly readable account of Cromwell written to fit into the Gerald Duckworth & Co., Ltd Great Lives series which ran from 1933 – 1965. It was offered as an affordable option for home libraries at a time when people bought and read books and actually maintained home libraries. This edition, originally written in 1939 in the dark shadow of European dictatorship is relevant in 2024 in the shadow of American Christian unreality. The soldier-statemen Cromwell put an end to the ruinous English Civil War, restored peace at home and created respect abroad, but at great cost. The dangerous parallel to our own time that I see is in the religious commitments of a political leaders where prayer is substituted for thought and trust in God is substituted for use of reason.
Divine Justification for Political Action
I think of the English Civil War (1642 – 1652) as another front in the Thirty Years’ War (1618 – 1648). Both were political/religious wars fought using similar tactics, brutality and cruelty that can only be employed when one is acting with divine purpose as the chosen instrument of God to fight the Lord’s battles where success is proof that any action, no matter how cruel or barbaric, is pleasing to God. There can be no crime for one who acts in the service of the Lord. There is nothing better for one’s belief in their own confidence as a belief in divine guidance. As such, I thus read this book to get some insight into the religious-political mindset. Our current political moment is dominated by minds that belong in the seventeenth century. The mixing of religion with politics, nay the intrusion of religion into politics, to advance a theocratic agenda, once thought unthinkable, is now the currency of the Trump realm. The Republican Party is now the nursery of religious fundamentalism and dogmatic extremism, a home for religious zealots as well as political cowards. Just as in the seventeenth century of Oliver Cromwell, the incoming members and supporters of the Trump administration believe they will succeed because they are directly guided by divine will and that by following divine will they must succeed. This is typical circuitous Christian clownish circular nonsense. Belief in fantasies and in worlds that do not exist is a key feature of religion. It is no wonder that Christians voted for Trump and his gang of oligarchs. This is madness. But based on this madness, the Christian zealots are demanding the radical reorganization of society. A mind adjusted to prayer is one unadjusted to life in the world. For example, there is the belief that all souls are equal before God, so we need not worry about injustice in the world. Needless to say, this is a monstrous false equivalency fallacy based on superstitious beliefs and fiction. The bitter fanatism of Christian Fundamentalism is incapable of intellectual enlargement. In looking at the seventeenth century this is at least comprehensible, but in the twenty-first century it is inexcusable.
Runaway Religion
Interestingly, the three primary causes of the English Civil War identified by Veronica Wedgwood can be seen in the U.S., viz., 1) Administrative (the role of the government in providing services to its citizens), 2) Economic (the exercise of political power through financial control), Religious (the imposition of a single religious view on society). In the seventeenth century, religious unrest was a primary cause the English Civil War as well as the Thirty Years’ War. Religion is often the cause on unrest, violence, bigotry and war and I see the same dynamic at work in the U.S. with Christian Nationalism and Evangelical Christian Fundamentalism. Religious believers are only tolerant of opinions that can be reconciled to their own. The U.S. is currently in the midst of runaway religion as was England and Central Europe in the seventeenth century. Just as Oliver Crowell was sure that he was doing the will of God, and heard the voice of God, so too are such retrograde figures in the Trump administration as Russell Vought and potentially Pete Hegseth. Ironically though, in practice at least, Cromwell, apart from his anti-Catholic policy in Ireland, was much more moderate than our current crop of Christian Fundamentalists. We are again entering a period where religious issues drive political outcomes but few public commentators, and no political leaders, will speak about this antisocial movement. This is a measure of how intimidated they are by the Americans who take ludicrous Christian superstitions seriously. But these same delusional and dangerous people are growing more arrogant, intolerant, emboldened, and confident in their beliefs as a result of 2024 election. Then as now, politics interwoven with religious convictions is antithetical to civil society which, then as now, is always a pernicious thing. Then as now, the superstitions of Christianity are sought to address real political, social, and economic issues.
April 5, 2024
Well and tightly written biography of Oliver Cromwell, who can definitely be termed a Christian nationalist. The way his faith is incorporated into his life and action is interesting and gives one a little pause.
March 13, 2018
A short, well written, and fair account of one of England's most controversial men. Wedgwood's contention is that Cromwell was a political moderate, who desired a limited monarchy and opposed the rising political radicalism of his age. He achieved neither, instead creating a kind of proto-military dictatorship with dire consequences for Ireland. Since Cromwell is a man who attracts either damnation or defense, an imminently fair biography is a welcome respite from the old debates about his motives and influence. Interestingly, Wedgwood rates his influence as being less important than the memory of his rule, since his political project ended right after his death.
December 28, 2022
* Really short and good book about the man Oliver Crownwell
* Shane has a good opinion about him
* Big things 3 powers in the state after the civil war
* Parliament, army and Oliver
* He had to keep peace between both of them
* Could explain his actions more clearly
* Very big on having a conscience that is not oppressed
* Did not like persecution.
* Ireland was an exception
* However anti Irish propaganda over the slaughter of Protestants probably having something to play on this
* Need to read more from h
* Shane has a good opinion about him
* Big things 3 powers in the state after the civil war
* Parliament, army and Oliver
* He had to keep peace between both of them
* Could explain his actions more clearly
* Very big on having a conscience that is not oppressed
* Did not like persecution.
* Ireland was an exception
* However anti Irish propaganda over the slaughter of Protestants probably having something to play on this
* Need to read more from h
October 11, 2019
Wedgewood is clearly convinced of Cromwell's positive influence and his godly character. Very little that is critical is found in these brief pages, which do give an overview of events of this era. More a vindication or defence of Cromwell than an interrogative history this is an easy read.
July 6, 2024
Excellent historical writing: short, concise, illuminating.
February 18, 2017
Succinct bio of the "most typical of all Englishmen". Cromwell was not a radical, even so he found that he had won the war but lost the principle he had been fought for. Washington succeeded accomplishing both. Big difference was that the American Revolution was not fought over religion, just politics and economics. Of course, the Americans had the example of Cromwell before them.
December 27, 2012
A 122 page book on Cromwell. Very enjoyable - as has been everything I've read by her. A great, great storyteller. I didn't know much about this period, other than Wedgwood's book Coffin for a Key -- an even better book than this one.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews