Edward Holberton’s "Poetry and the Cromwellian Protectorate: Culture, Politics, and Institutions" (2008) challenges the view of the 1650s as a cultural vacuum, detailing a vibrant literary culture deeply embedded in the political, academic, and diplomatic institutions of Oliver Cromwell’s rule. The work highlights how poets, including Andrew Marvell, navigated the complex power dynamics of the era, moving beyond mere propaganda to explore the insecurities of the Protectorate. More details can be found at Oxford Academic .