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Antonia Fraser
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Cromwell, Our Chief of Men Hardcover – 7 Jun. 1973

by Antonia Fraser (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 364 ratings
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A paperback edition of a biography of Cromwell, first published in 1973, which aims to present a more human and real portrait than that of Victorian authorities.
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  1. Print length
    794 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Weidenfeld & Nicolson
  4. Publication date
    7 Jun. 1973
  5. ISBN-10
    0297765566
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0297765561
  7. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Weidenfeld & Nicolson; First Edition (7 Jun. 1973)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 794 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0297765566
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0297765561
  • Customer reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 364 ratings

About the author

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Antonia Fraser

Antonia Fraser

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Antonia Fraser is the author of numerous novels and historical works including Marie Antoinette, The Wives of Henry VIII, Mary Queen of Scots, and Faith and Treason. She is also famous for her Jemima Shore series of mysteries. She and her husband, Harold Pinter, live in London.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
364 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book brilliant, well-written, and pacy. They appreciate the depth, detail, and biography of Oliver Cromwell. Readers describe the visual style as old-fashioned and fine. They also mention that the book creates an image of Royalist thinking.

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ReadabilityDepthBiographyVisual styleLeadershipSuspenseful
34 customers mention ‘Readability’27 positive7 negative

Customers find the book brilliant, well-written, and pacy. They say it's worth having for anyone interested in the amazing 17th Century. Readers also mention it's a must-read for new history addicts.

"...Fraser pulls off the difficult trick of writing a book that is readable, elegant and deeply analytical...." Read more

"...A fascinating read." Read more

"...and fine biographer, this thoroughly researched work is also a pacy read...." Read more

"...The book is easy to read and is well written. I have had to repurchase this book three times for one reason or another...." Read more

24 customers mention ‘Depth’22 positive2 negative

Customers find the book extremely rich in detail, thoroughly researched, and informative. They say it gives a clear and comprehensive account of Oliver Cromwell's life. Readers also appreciate the author's serious effort to understand Cromwell.

"...difficult trick of writing a book that is readable, elegant and deeply analytical...." Read more

"...This book has all the detail I was looking for but I often found myself having to back track on what I had just read as the narrative is very..." Read more

"...Her research is staggering and she is incredibly perceptive...." Read more

"...Antonia Fraser is an established and fine biographer, this thoroughly researched work is also a pacy read...." Read more

13 customers mention ‘Biography’13 positive0 negative

Customers find the biography interesting, saying it provides an insight into both the private and public lives of one of England's greatest figures. They also appreciate the detailed account of the Lord Protector.

"Antonia Fraser must be one of the best historical biographers alive today. Her research is staggering and she is incredibly perceptive...." Read more

"Lady Antonia Fraser is an established and fine biographer, this thoroughly researched work is also a pacy read...." Read more

"...It provided an insight into both the private and public life. You get a fully rounded picture of the life of Oliver Cromwell and his family...." Read more

"Sympathetic (some might say too sympathetic) biography of one of England's greatest - if controversial figures...." Read more

5 customers mention ‘Visual style’5 positive0 negative

Customers find the visual style interesting and fine. They say it creates an image of Royalist thinking that is a lesson for today.

"...pulls off the difficult trick of writing a book that is readable, elegant and deeply analytical...." Read more

"Very interesting look at a usually underestimated historical figure...." Read more

"...It creates an image of Royalist thinking that is a lesson for today." Read more

"The seeds produced a fine display" Read more

4 customers mention ‘Leadership’4 positive0 negative

Customers find the leadership in the book great and talented. They say it's a balanced account of the great man's life.

"...She sees him as a godly man, very talented as a military leader whose reputation has been seriously damage by his activity in Ireland, some of..." Read more

"A very balanced account of the great man's life, dispelling a lot of the nastier myths and legends, or at least putting them into the perspective of..." Read more

"A lot of good stuff about this important yet complex man. His place in history is assured and the book sets out the good and bad...." Read more

"Leader of Men and Greatest of Men..." Read more

4 customers mention ‘Suspenseful’4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book suspenseful and well-researched. They say it tells Cromwell's life in an exciting way. However, some readers feel the telling of the story is turgid and dull.

"...As I read the book, it became more and more captivating. It provided an insight into both the private and public life...." Read more

"...This is a fascinating story, but the telling of it here is turgid, dull, SLOW and often impenetrable...." Read more

"Dated, slightly partisan (forNoll) but well researched and fascinating. Must read for new history addicts." Read more

"Miss Fraser tells Cromwell's life,in an exciting way,, a brilliant read, and not hard to understand,, If you love istory, you will love this,," Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

SEA WARRIOR
5.0 out of 5 stars LENGTHY BUT TREMENDOUS
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 June 2024
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I enjoyed this but, taking me ten months to get through it, the book fails my Beach Read Test. Why buy it? Because I had greatly enjoyed 'Act of Oblivion', by Robert Harris, and, closing it, felt that I really didn't know enough about the English Civil War. Antonia Fraser pulls off the difficult trick of writing a book that is readable, elegant and deeply analytical. The only thing misssing, perhaps, is deeper coverage of the collapse of the Protectorate and of the return of Charles II - but I can forgive that in a biography. Her neatest observation? That Cromwell's accretion of power led to 'The Lord Protector' repeating the mistakes of Charles I - look, there they are, both dispensing with troublesome parliaments! I'll certainly buy another of Lady Antonia's books. Maybe one of her novels might be short enough to deserve some time on the beach.
One person found this helpful
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christopher balnaves
4.0 out of 5 stars Great English Hero
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 April 2019
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I read all I can about this man whose like we will not see again more is the pity. This book has all the detail I was looking for but I often found myself having to back track on what I had just read as the narrative is very convoluted. I do not usually have this problem but it is the way it is written. Also,why oh why did the author find it necessary to use so many obscure words - it mad have been an effort to impress but I found it grating at times.
12 people found this helpful
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M. J. Gilfedder
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 October 2022
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Antonia Fraser must be one of the best historical biographers alive today. Her research is staggering and she is incredibly perceptive. Her approach to such a controversial character as Oliver Cromwell is very fair and balanced. It would have been easy to have focused only on Cromwell's faults and war crimes. He was a
very complex man, polarising opinion to this very day, and a fascinating person to read about. Fraser weaves a tapestry of political intrigue, war, religion and power with Cromwell the man as well as the leader always at the heart of the story. A fascinating read.
3 people found this helpful
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Dean Thornton
3.0 out of 5 stars A VERY big book!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 July 2024
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WOW! What a VERY thick/big book this one is! Quick delivery, from placement of my ordered book. Been wanting to read this for quite a while, but never got around to getting a copy - until today! Happy with this purchase. Thanks.
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Rod Read
5.0 out of 5 stars Leader of Men and Greatest of Men
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 December 2012
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Lady Antonia Fraser is an established and fine biographer, this thoroughly researched work is also a pacy read. Despite her title she never allows any class-perspective to cause her to vilify Cromwell, as he has been for centuries by the upper classes. However she still underplays his massive achievement as a leader and politician when top dog. He restored justice to the kingdom, rebuilt the navy, forged trading links with Europe and further afield, established our early American colonies and eventual empire and played fairly with all, including over religious toleration.

Because history is written by the winners, but only after his peaceful death in office, his tremendous morality and ability is consistently undervalued, even today. It should be shouted from the rooftops he was the greatest King we never crowned, because he had the good sense to refuse it! She is but the first - and relatively neutral step - to the proper acclamation which is his due.

From lowly common Fen farmer to expert cavalry general who recruited and promoted on ability only, and swiftly king in all but name in only twelve years, as well as peaceful statesman, is so exceptional we should place him at the pinnacle of English military, meritocratic, revolutionary, moral and political achievement, 'Leader of Men' indeed.
23 people found this helpful
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Chris Shannon
5.0 out of 5 stars Bought Again & Again
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 April 2014
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At first glance, when I first bought this book, I thought, "blinding, that's a big book". As I read the book, it became more and more captivating. It provided an insight into both the private and public life. You get a fully rounded picture of the life of Oliver Cromwell and his family. If you would like a brief overview of Cromwell, or just a passing interest, then this is not the book for you. If you like history, or if you are on a history or politics course then this is the book for you. The book is easy to read and is well written. I have had to repurchase this book three times for one reason or another. Most of my friends said that they felt compelled to read it to the end. I enjoyed it a lot. You will too!
14 people found this helpful
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DJ Garcia
4.0 out of 5 stars Great biography of a fascinating man
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 August 2019
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Sympathetic (some might say too sympathetic) biography of one of England's greatest - if controversial figures. Each chapter of Oliver's life is explored in detail, even though the man himself might still come out of it as a bit of an enigma.

Read on Kindle, didn't spot any typos but numerals of different kings and queens mentioned appear mostly as lower case, for example Charles i instead of Charles I. However, this doesn't detract from the quality of the book. Highly recommended to those wishing to know more about the Protector's life and times.
2 people found this helpful
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Kevin Botting
5.0 out of 5 stars A marathon read but worth it
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 March 2019
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This book gives a clear and comprehensive account of Oliver Cromwell's life, and reveals the contradictions, doubts, and convictions of this man who found himself ruler of Britain without ever deliberately planning to do so.
It reveals his care and concern for individuals - even those who opposed him - and his tolerance compared to other 17th Century rulers. Yes, it covers the sackings of the two towns in Ireland without ducking the issue, but it also reveals that he showed mercy to the other besieged towns there. Nevertheless, Cromwell did serve Ireland badly as Irish land was given to English and Scottish soldiers in lieu of wages as Britain was broke after all the Civil Wars.
The man was an enigma - a country gentleman of modest means who found himself an MP swept up in the wrangle with the King and who then discovered that he had a talent for recruiting and training armies and utilising cavalry with far more effectiveness than any other 17th Century European commander. Finally, he had civil leadership thrust upon him.
The problem for him and all the Parliamentarians was that they never had a real plan for what to do after defeating the King, and they could not agree amongst themselves in order to formulate a plan. Does that remind anyone of British affairs since 2016??!!!
17 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Harold Quesnel
5.0 out of 5 stars Questioning Official Narratives
Reviewed in Canada on 18 February 2024
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A thoroughly and well documented historic work. It helps to better understand who Oliver Cromwell was, as a Man.
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Brian Skillin
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book on an misunderstood man
Reviewed in the United States on 13 January 2021
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Having come to this book after reading a biography of John Brown, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I knew next to nothing of the man, except that he was universally despised for some reason. This book speaks of a man guided by faith, an impressive man who has perhaps been historically misunderstood. I recommend this book for any history fan, even if that interest isn’t in England or Protestant Leaders.
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elisabeth loewenstein
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect
Reviewed in France on 24 April 2016
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Arrived as expected in the right condition in a timely fashion. Thank you
Very good sellers which I recommend.
Please thank them.
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Dieter Burmann
5.0 out of 5 stars Cromwell, Our Chief of Men
Reviewed in Germany on 30 July 2013
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Immer schon an Geschichte interessiert hat mich an diesem Buch beeindruckt, mit welchem Fleiß Frau Fraser zeitnahe Dokumente
aufgespürt und in ihrem erstaunlich neutralem Werk verarbeitet hat, auch wenn manche Vokabeln nicht gerade dem gängigen täglichen "Gebrauchenglish" entsprechen. Beim konzentrierten Lesen des Buches kann man sich förmlich in die zu Cromwell`s Zeiten herrschende Denkart versetzen.
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John Darracott
4.0 out of 5 stars As Expected
Reviewed in Canada on 17 February 2021
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Ditto
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