No Englishman has made more impact on the history of his nation than Oliver Cromwell; few have been so persistently maligned in the folklore of history. The central purpose of Antonia Frasers book is the recreation of his life & character freed from the distortions of myth & Royalist propaganda. Cromwell was a man of contradictions & surprising charm. This decisive & ruthless commander was also a country gentleman & a passionate connoisseur of music. Of Cromwells fitness for high office this fascinating biography leaves no doubt. Under his rule English prestige abroad rose to a level unequalled since Elizabeth I yet his campaign in Ireland has cast a shadow over his reputation. Antonia Fraser displays great insight into this complex man & reveals a totally unexpected Cromwell far removed from the received stereotype.