Book excerpt: This second edition brings up to date its original survey of the dramatic eleven-year period when Britain, having executed its King, experimented with various forms of alternative government. The character of that experiment and the legacy it left are the key themes of the book. Oliver Cromwell, an extraordinary man in an extraordinary situation, is the central figure. What he achieved and the controversies that continue to surround him receive close examination. In addition, the book analyses the remarkable social, economic and religious movements of this fascinating age, and casts light on the lives of the ordinary people as well as leading politicians. The updated study guides provide a firm basis for answering differentiated, source-based and extended-writing questions.