God's Executioner by Micheal O Siochru - 3.5 Rounded to 4 Stars

[Regina Lindsey]

by Micheál Ó Siochrú -3.5 Rounded to 4 Stars

Cromwell, a committed Puritan, is an incredibly controversial figure in British history. On the one hand BBC viewers proclaimed him one of the greatest Britons of all time. Conversely, he evokes viscerally strong emotions from the Irish. Having only spent nine months in Ireland between 1649-1650, he is considered by the Irish a war criminal, a religious persecutor, and ethnic cleanser as he continued to carry out the work of the British crown bringing natives and Catholics into subjection.

Cromwell was one of the signatories that brought about Charles I's execution, inflaming the Irish situation. Having little military experience he was tapped to lead troops into Ireland. In the summer of 1649, Cromwell was sent to Ireland with two objectives: to place it firmly under English control; to superintend the confiscation the land of all 'rebels' - as a result almost forty per cent of the land of Ireland was redistributed from Catholics born in Ireland to Protestants born in Britain. His first target was the town of Drogheda north of Dublin which he stormed and captured. Perhaps 2,500 men, mainly in arms, were killed during the storm and several hundred more - all the officers, all Catholic priests and friars, every tenth common soldier - were killed, many clubbed to death. It was in accordance with the laws of war, but it went far beyond what any General had done in England. Cromwell then perpetrated a messier massacre at Wexford. Thereafter most towns surrendered on his approach, and he scrupulously observed surrender articles and spared the lives of soldiers and civilians. It was and is a controversial conquest. But, from the English point of view, it worked. In the summer of 1650, he returned to England and was sent off to Scotland, where Charles II had been proclaimed and crowned as King of Britain and Ireland. In a campaign as unrelenting but less brutal, he wiped out the royal armies and established a military occupation of the lowlands and west that was to last until 1660. In September 1651 he returned to a roman-style triumphant entry in London.

As I go through this study of Irish history I'm amazed at the profound effect Henry VII's separation from the Catholic church impacted the Irish. Readers, both fiction and historical non-fiction, are often attracted to the Tudor period for a number of reasons. Often it is the salacious nature of his relationship with his wives that receive the most focus. But, so far at least in my study, actions approximately 600 years ago are still felt on the island that now stands divided between north and south.

[Anita]

I always learn so much from your reviews. It's great because then I don't have to read the history book . . .which I have to say is a very hit or miss experience for me because my context is never where I want it to be. I always have a million questions.

[Regina Lindsey]

Awwww. Thanks. Now I don't feel so bad about flooding PBT with my dorky reading