This is great Nikki, thank you! As you point out, Cromwell positions himself as "turning the world upside down" but at this point in the story he is the focus of a rebellion. And there is always the shadow of Oliver, who will really turn everything on its head.
Cromwell's always been proud of his vile blood, but there's so much doubt running through these chapters: he is the sinner who does the dirty work, he imagines other lives he could have led, and has he even got what he wanted? What does Cromwell want?
Much to ponder there! And yes, Oliver's shadow did seem to be hovering over the banter about whether Cromwell's heirs could rule England, or parliament choose a king...
"The grandees of England claim descent from emperors and angels. To them, Henry Tudor is the son of Welsh horse-thieves: a parvenu, a usurper, a man to whom oaths may be broken."
(I left this lovely quote out as we hadn't got to it yet...)
This is great Nikki, thank you! As you point out, Cromwell positions himself as "turning the world upside down" but at this point in the story he is the focus of a rebellion. And there is always the shadow of Oliver, who will really turn everything on its head.
Cromwell's always been proud of his vile blood, but there's so much doubt running through these chapters: he is the sinner who does the dirty work, he imagines other lives he could have led, and has he even got what he wanted? What does Cromwell want?
Much to ponder there! And yes, Oliver's shadow did seem to be hovering over the banter about whether Cromwell's heirs could rule England, or parliament choose a king...
"The grandees of England claim descent from emperors and angels. To them, Henry Tudor is the son of Welsh horse-thieves: a parvenu, a usurper, a man to whom oaths may be broken."
(I left this lovely quote out as we hadn't got to it yet...)