Some years ago, having seen @earlymodernjohn’s copy, I bought my wife this children’s history of Oliver Cromwell from 1963 as a joke present to both enrage and entertain her. Have just reread it. So join me for the highlights of Oliver Cromwell: An Adventure from History!

Did you know Cromwell was basically great and you got most of your freedoms from him? Go figure!

Here he is playfully brawling with Charles I as a boy! The scamps!

The book clears up many misperceptions you might have about this era. For example, yes, most puritans were no craic. But they weren’t ALL like that. Some were like Cromwell, who literally cancelled Christmas.

It paints a nuanced, subtle and unbiased portrait of the tyranny of Charles I and his execution.

And of the rule of the Lord Protecror. Cromwell didn’t want to be a dictator, you see, but Parliament kept on annoying him. What would you do in a situation like that??

Some stuff happened in Ireland and the Irish are still annoyed about it but whatever.

You certainly couldn’t accuse the book of whitewashing Cromwell’s character or underplaying his campaign in Ireland. These dashes add an important parenthetical for the reader’s inevitable conclusion that he was basically great.

So in conclusion: Oliver Cromwell - pretty... pretty... pretty... pretty good. I hope you have enjoyed this journey through the past!