Book review: Puritan Rule Under Cromwell, by Jane Hayter-Hames

Available for pre-order from Amazon UK

and from Amberley Books

The civil wars which turned England into a battlefield ended with the execution of King Charles I in Whitehall on the 30th January, 1649.  The new government had unimaginable power, yet the social and political problems would not go away, and both Scotland and Ireland simmered with discontent about English rule.

This is where Jane Hayter-Hames' new book begins, although I recommend reading her previous book, The Fall of Charles I, to have a fuller understanding of the background.

Oliver Cromwell emerged as the leader, but his brand of Puritanism did not have mass appeal, there was still a significant Catholic faction, and by it's nature Parliament proved difficult to control. Driven underground, Royalist sympathisers muttered about a king in exile, and the new constitution had yet to be agreed.

Cromwell did his best to balance these conflicting demands, and this book provides a clear overview of events up to his death on the 3rd of September 1658, aged 59.

In 1660, Charles I's son was restored as king, but his kingdom was changed forever. Puritan Rule Under Cromwell offers a useful way of understanding how - and why the monarchy was given a second chance. I look forward to reading the next volume in Jane Hayter-Hames'  fascinating series.

Tony Riches

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About the Author

Jane Hayter-Hames is an author, historian and researcher. She was born in Devon and lives on her farm on the edge of Dartmoor She also has roots in County Cork, Ireland where she has studied and written history. She read politics and economics at the University of Oxford, but returned to the university to take a BA in history in 2009.