Oliver Cromwell is unique in British history. No figure has risen so high from such modest beginnings, and none has generated such intense and sharply divided opinions among both contemporaries and succeeding generations. This book re-examines Cromwell's life and career. It opens with an assessment of the man and the myth, exploring the legends which surround Cromwell, the differing interpretations advanced by generations of historians and the source material upon which such interpretations can be based. The book then provides an extensive, chronologically based examination of Cromwell's life and career, highlighting key events and turning points and exploring in some detail his role and power as Lord Protector. The investigation closes with thematic assessments of some key aspects of Cromwell, including his character and appearance, his political outlook and his religious beliefs. Wherever possible, the analysis is based upon strictly contemporary material, especially Cromwell's own writings and speeches.