Q. What made you write another biography of Cromwell?
A. I wrote this biography because the publisher invited
me to. In addition, I am fascinated by
Oliver Cromwell, and believe that I understand the 'inner man’ better than most
historians, especially his religion, which is of such key importance in
understanding him. Finally, I believe I had some original information and
insights to impart. Through my research
in the Close Rolls (NA, C 54) I turned up material on his personal finances of
which no one else was aware. I am also
the first person to draw public attention to the "Fleetwood Chest",
his wedding gift to his daughter Bridget, now held in the Collins Barracks
Museum in Dublin. I believe also that I
have successfully interwoven his political and military careers and shown how
they were interconnected, and influenced each other.
Q Are you aware that Prof john Morrill and his team are
working on a new critical edition of the collected works of Oliver Cromwell.
A. Yes, I know about the forthcoming critical
edition. John Morrill is a good friend
of mine, and we have discussed many aspects of Cromwell's life. The critical
edition will be most welcome since WC Abbott's edition is unsatisfactory in
many respects.
Q How do you see the current historiography on Oliver
Cromwell
A.It is striking that new material on Cromwell is being
turned up all the time. In particular
Patrick little has written about the Protectorate, as well as Cromwell's
daughters' marriages, his interest in horses, and music, and his sense of
humour. Andrew Barclay has written a
valuable study of Cromwell's early life, in which he has solved the puzzle of
how Cromwell managed to get elected for the borough of Cambridge in 1640. Both Little and Barclay have kindly shared
with me their research findings in advance of publication. Blair Worden is preparing a keenly-awaited
intellectual biography of Cromwell.
Q What are you working on now.
A.This summer I am writing the biography of Col. Thomas
Pride for the History of Parliament, and preparing a keynote address to the
Midwest Conference on British Studies on the state of play in Civil War
studies. My longer-term project is a
book on Ireland and England in the 16th and 17th centuries, with particular
attention to the plantations of the 1650s.
No comments:
Post a Comment