Main content

Puritans and God-given government

Andrew Marr discuss political and religious ideology with Paul Lay, Lisa Mullen, Stephen Tomkins and Lindsay Newman

Oliver Cromwell鈥檚 Protectorate in the mid-seventeenth century lasted a mere six years and was England鈥檚 sole experiment in republican government. The historian Paul Lay tells Andrew Marr how Cromwell forged both his foreign and domestic policy according to God鈥檚 will - including waging wars in the Americas.

Protestant separatists are at the heart of Stephen Tomkins's recreation of the journey of the Mayflower, three decades before Cromwell鈥檚 rule. Escaping religious persecution, the Pilgrim Fathers built their version of a brave new world in America.

In the 400 years since the sailing of the Mayflower the USA has become a world superpower. Lindsay Newman from Chatham House looks at President Trump鈥檚 foreign policy decisions, especially in relation to Iran, and examines the political ideology that drives them.

It is 70 years since the death of George Orwell. The academic Lisa Mullen explores the contemporary relevance of his writings on political and religious ideology, republicanism and the freedom to express heretical views.

Producer: Katy Hickman

Available now

42 minutes

Last on

Mon 20 Jan 2020 21:30
麻豆社 Radio 4

More episodes

Previous

No work, rest and play

Next

Grayson Perry - the early years

See all episodes from Start the Week

Stephen Tomkins

Stephen Tomkins is a writer, broadcaster, editor and speaker.

The Journey to the Mayflower: God鈥檚 Outlaws and the Invention of Freedom is published by Hodder & Stoughton.

Mayflower 400: Legend and Legacy is the national commemorative exhibition for the Mayflower 400 anniversary, opening at The Box in Plymouth on 16th May 2020. It has been co-curated with the Wampanoag Advisory Committee. For further information please visit

Paul Lay

Paul Lay is聽editor of History Today. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, Senior Research Fellow at the Humanities Research Institute, University of Buckingham, and a trustee of the Cromwell Museum, Huntingdon.

Providence Lost: The Rise and Fall of the English Republic is published by Head of Zeus.

Lisa Mullen

Dr Lisa Mullen is a Teaching Associate in Modern and Contemporary Literature and Film at Cambridge University, and a Bye Fellow and Director of Studies at Downing College.

Orwell Unwell: Pathology and the Medical Imaginary in the Fiction and Journalism of George Orwell (in preparation).

Lindsay Newman

Dr Lindsay Newman is Senior Research Fellow in the US and Americas Programme at Chatham House.

Broadcasts

  • Mon 20 Jan 2020 09:00
    麻豆社 Radio 4
  • Mon 20 Jan 2020 21:30
    麻豆社 Radio 4

Podcast

  • Start the Week

    Weekly discussion programme, setting the cultural agenda every Monday