New-York tribune., 1900-12-15
CROMWELL.
A NovELIsTs PORTRAIT OF THE LORD
PROTECTOR

OLIVER CROMWELL. His Life and Character.
BY Arthur Paterson. Octave, PIP. viii, Sl5
Frederick A. Stokes Company
The recent revival OF popular interest IN
Cromwell has been more productive than such
revivals usually are OF good literary work It
has given US several admirable studies OF the
Protector and OF the Great Rebellion. one Of
which-that OF Mr.. Morley-is likely 10 prove a
permanent addition to English literature. Among
these books Mr.. Patersons fares fsvorably. 1t
does not exhibit the ripe political wisdom and
literary distinction Of Mr.. Morley's work. nor
Mr. Firth's minute and painstaking historical
scholarship: but IL is written in felcitous
style. with adequate knowledge OF the material
and with a freshness OF enthusiasm for its
subject which renders II very attractive.
AS its title indicates. the volume deals with
the man Cromwell rather than with the soldier
and the statesman. Its object. as the author
says IN the preface, lis 10 give a narrative of
The PERSONAL life aims and motives OF this great
Englishman; any history OF the time has been
studiousIy avoided. Cromwell. and Cromwell
alone with what Cromwell did and tried 10 do,
and was-this is the theme" And this rule has
been strictly followed. The political back
ground is carefully drawn. and there is no lack
n vigorous narration OF military operations; but
everywhere these events are considered solely
in relation 70 CromwelFs personality. They are
discussed only for the light which they throw
upon his character. That there is room for such
personal estimate OF the man IL is hardly
necessary 20 say. il may not, indeed, be true
that as M Paterson says, the world, much
as il has read Of Cromwell. is still lamentably
ignorant OF his real character; but it is true
that be has been frequently mis5udged and the
task OF removing wilful prejudice is still only
partly accomplished.
To this task Mr.. Paterson devotes himself un-
reservedly. In fact. one is inclined 20 think
that as an apologist he goes little too far.
He Is not 81 is true. guilty OF overpraising his
hero for nearly all that he has 10 say in the
way Of praise is just: nor. unless II be IN dis
cussing the butcheries in Ireland, does he de-
fend him unfairly: but he emphasizes too much
the lights and too little the shadows Of his char
scter For shadows in 81 there undoubtedly
were. and il is right 10 admit the fact. That
any fair minded man should fail 10 recognize
CronWens sincerity devotion 10 duty and sin
gle minded patriotism has, since Carlyle wrote
of him. been impossible. But IL Is also clear
that his nature had sornbre side. that he was
capable OF extraordinary self-decepton, and
that impulses that were dark and repellent
lurzed not far behind the lofty motives that in
the main sctuated him. Only when both sides
NJ his nature the good and the evil-if that be
NOT too strong word-are fully disclosed can
We really understand him. ms iui olsclosuFe
~ CromWelTs character Mr.. Paterson has not
given us. lie has only succeeded in making
more clear 70 us what was clear befOre-Crom-
wells essential nobility.
q the various interesting passages in the book
which might pnohtably be discussed only one
can be cite6-that which deals with the dark
est chapter In Cromwells life" the Irish cam
paign above referred 10. IT well illustrates what
We nave said q mr.. Patersons general point OF
view. Three elements, he says. IN this 'inva-
sion" must be kept in view II We are TO take
oispsssionate and comprehensive view Of the
matter" namely. the indignation IN the minds