Cromwell to Cromwell

by John Schofield

How England became radical and revolutionary in the time between the Reformation and the Civil War—with a reappraisal of Thomas Cromwell's legacy and new approach to causes of the Civil War Following on from his biography of Thomas Cromwell, John Schofield examines how the English character and the way it perceived royal rule changed between the time of Thomas Cromwell and that of his great-great-grandnephew Oliver. The English reformers of the 1530s, with Thomas Cromwell at their head, continued to have a strong belief in kingly rule and authority, in contrast to their radical approach to the power of the Pope and the Roman Cathoic Church. Resisting the king was tantamount to resisting God in their eyes, and even on a matter of conscience the will of the king should prevail. Yet just more than 100 years later, Charles I was called the "man of blood," and Oliver Cromwell famously declared that "we will cut off his head with the crown on it." This history explores how the deferential Reformation become a regicidal revolution.

Genres: History, Tudor Period, Religion, Politics, Nonfiction

304 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2009

Reviews

[Char · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really informative book, but oftentimes a bit too tedious for me, personally. I got a bit lost with the various religious parties and what they were trying to achieve although, admittedly, that was a me problem! It was interesting enough and a good insight into that time period, with the emphasis away from the monarchs and on parliament, which is a refreshing change to see what went on behind the face of the crown.

[Sarah u · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cromwell to Cromwell discusses the various religious reformations that took place in England over the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries in England, from Thomas Cromwell's time as Henry VIII's 'top man' to the interregnum and rule of Oliver Cromwell following the English Civil War. Working through the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary, Elizabeth, James I and Charles I, the various changes and upheavals are discussed along with the monarch's role in them. I bought this book at the beginning of the academic year 2012-2013 when I had university study of the European Reformation and the Wars of the Three Kingdoms looming, to help me with my studies and to bridge the gap between the two centuries, yet wound up thoroughly enjoying it in its own right.

Schofield has skillfully written the facts of this period in a way that is still accessable, discussing the religious history of this time in context with that attitudes and beliefs of the people living in it. The narrative was not biased in any way, and the book is excellently referenced with endnotes and a full source list. One of the early chapters looks at Martin Luther, his theses and the spread of his beliefs which is particularly useful and serves as a good starting point for the rest of the book. This is a useful and enjoyable book that I would recommend to anyone interested in this period or the changes in religion over history.

Buddy read with Kav.

[Jane Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of us think we know about the Reformation. It happened because of Henry VIII; it was essentially about power. And by the time we get to the civil wars, that was about Catholics v. Protestants and about politics. Schofield's book shows that it was much more complex than that, and that religious ideas shaped politics in a way we find extraordinary today.
He takes us through the whole period from Thomas Cromwell to Oliver Cromwell and shows the struggle for the supremacy of many different, competing ideas.

[Simon D · Rating 3 out of 5]

A some what partisan comparison between Thomas Cromwell and Oliver Cromwell as reformers of the English church / state, with a brief narrative of the Monarchs and Churchmen in between.

The author makes a provides a fairly compelling analysis for why Thomas was more successful in reaching his presumed goals than Oliver and provides a concise and fairly clear period history in passing.