My first clue should have been that this 800-page book only cost a buck.  Wow, what a bargain.  It was about English history in the 1600’s and I thought that might be interesting.  The cover said it was a national best seller.  I should have asked myself which nation.  I guarantee it wasn’t on this side of the pond.

The book was entitled, “Cromwell, The Lord Protector.”  I knew during the 1600’s, the king had been overthrown and that England had been ruled without a monarch.  This book would give me the incite I wanted.

Let me say that I have a policy that once I start reading a book, I finish it.  And I’ve read some pretty deadly books.  Until this Cromwell book, I can only remember refusing to read to conclusion once.  It was a situation where I went to the window, opened it and screamed, “I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore.”  The book was Ludlum’s Borne Ultimatum.  I read Borne’s Identity and Supremacy.  But in Ultimatum, the master villain kept escaping all the way across Europe.  Then, somewhere in Poland or Russia, the good guys had him surrounded in a warehouse with no possibility of escape.  And for the 27th repetitious time, he escaped.  So, I went to the window.  Don’t tell me how it ends.  I may go to the movie.

I didn’t read books in high school and only that which was required in college.  In high school, being a good student, I was interviewed to compete for a book award.   Three teachers sat as an evaluation committee and inquired as to what books I had recently read.  I told them I hadn’t read any books because I was too busy and that outside reading wasn’t necessary.  When I reflect back on that meeting, I am amazed that I have gotten as far as I have in life.  Can you imagine me telling a book evaluation committee that reading books isn’t necessary?  Oh, I didn’t win the book award.  But my experience leads me to conclude that there might be hope for some of those idiotic seventeen year old’s out there.

The Cromwell book was published in 1973.  That’s close to 40 years ago, but, hey, Cromwell lived 400 years ago; so 40 years seemed to me contemporary.  I expected the book to have 17th century quotes that were difficult to read and understand.  Back then, no one said they had been “disrespected.”  But their idea of mischief was a whole lot worse than what we think of as mischief today.  Difficult quotes I expected, but the author’s style of writing put her back in the 1600’s and it was just too tedious.

I did learn that back in that period everything revolved around religion.  Their idea of a mixed marriage would be a Presbyterian marrying an Episcopalian.  Of course, the way marriages were arranged, such a dastardly thing couldn’t happen.  I am satisfied that more people have been killed to further religious ideals than any other reason.

So, after 300 tedious pages, I decided to go to Wikipedia and find out what became of Charles I.  They lopped his head off.  In that period, that was real mischief.  I feel that I am a better person for struggling through the 300 pages.  I am completely convinced that putting the book down was good for my emotional well being.  Let’s face it, I guess I am more of a Louis L’Amour guy.

Written by PJ Rice at www.ricequips.com