Format:Paperback Amazingly the publishing history of this little biography of Cromwell goes all the way back to 1939 - when the first Duckworth edition appeared. It thus predates both the work of Christopher Hill and Antonia Fraser, as well as the many more recent cogitations on the New Model Army and of the Cromwell Association. It was revised in the early 70s when a four page postscript and some updated bibliographical notes were added.Nevertheless this volume has an excellent pedigree, having been penned by CV Wedgewood, arguably 'the' political Civil War historian of the mid twentieth century. Her best known works included the two part history of the wars and England from 1637 onward, 'King's Peace' and 'King's War', and a book on the trial of King Charles. She also corresponded with Brigadier Peter Young - who influenced many of her ideas on the military sphere.The virtue of this little book is as a relatively simple potted history of the often complicated life and times of Cromwell. Though much has since been written it remains both useful and digestible. Particularly recommended for exam candidates who need to mug up in a hurry; readers with short attention spans who cannot face the great 'doorstep' biographies; and anybody keen to see how Wedgwood's thought developed from as long ago as the pre World War II period.