The Making of Oliver Cromwell Audiobook By Ronald Hutton cover art

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
Balanced Perspective • Compelling Insights • Scholarly Depth • Detailed Descriptions • Open-minded Approach
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Sad to see the hero worshiping of a genocidal megalomaniac. His is the only statue I’d like to see removed.

Left out a bit

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I knew little to nothing about Cromwell or the English Civil War. This book filled my void. My one criticism is that this autobiography ended too early. What happened to Cromwell after the end of the Civil War to his death? What legacy did he leave to England. And how did Cromwell effect the disputation between Church and State in Western Culture to this day?

Fascinating Review of Oliver Cromwell

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This book is well-written and academic in a good way (meaning in-depth, not oversimplified). It's very focused, so I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for those who haven't already studied this period to some degree. It's also near impossible to follow unless you have a strong grasp of English geography, or are able to look at a map while listening.

Regarding some of the negative reviews here:

The claim that it's "way too detailed" makes no sense, unless that reviewer was complaining about Hutton's description of setting. Hutton often goes into great detail explaining landscape features, flora and fauna, and other atmospheric details you normally only get in a novel or pop history book. It's a bit excessive, but it makes the narrative more immersive.

Another person wrote that the book is "hero worshiping of a genocidal megalomaniac". This is nonsense. Hutton is about as objective as any biographer can be, and overall his depiction of Cromwell is far from flattering. He continuously notes Cromwell's disturbing love of killing, backwards belief that all his enemies are "evil", and his frequent attempts to take credit for battlefield successes he probably didn't deserve.

good overview for students or serious history fans

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What a pleasant surprise. Ronald Hutton isn't just a fantastic writer, he is what every historian should be: open-eyed and open-minded.

Hutton asks the big questions: Who was Cromwell: pious Puritan or ruthless politician? And how did he become the Cromwell we know today from such humble, inauspicious beginnings?

Grounded in genuine scholarship, Hutton respects the limits of what we CAN know about Cromwell while also providing compelling insight into the composite descriptions of his life's events.

The result of this is a portrait far more complex and interesting than myth or ideology. I highly recommend this biography.

Real History

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a good breakdown on who Oliver Cromwell was. Is neither pro or anti Cromwell, just looking for the truth of the man

honest and balanced

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As an American studying British history, I had to go to Wikipedia and YouTube over and over to grasp the wider topic and I still am unable to explain intelligibly what the English Civil Wars were all about and why they were important. In childish terms, I am still not sure who the good guys were. It will require yet another book on the topic I am afraid. But I know Oliver Cromwell as well as it is possible I guess.

Very specialized

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Detailed and informative biography of Oliver Cromwell from his childhood through his army early Parliamentary career. Instead of the picking either of the usual sides, Cromwell was a freedom loving saint or he was a self aggrandizing, lying manipulator who wormed his way to power, the author presented a reasonable explanation of how he could be both. I would highly recommend this book.

Fascinating Explanation of Cromwell‘s Contradictions

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I enjoyed the story and the narration. alot of reviews say this was boring, but I found it to be an easy listen.

Not boring

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I enjoy history and biographies, but gave up on this one fairly early on. It just lacked real life.

I gave up on this one--just found it boring

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This mostly a recitation of various battles between the Parliamentarian forces and those supporting King Charles II. It doesn't really elucidate much about the character of Cromwell.

Very Boring

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