In Defense of HistoryE. H. Carr's What Is History?, a classic introduction to the field, may now give way to a worthy successor. In his compact, intriguing survey, Richard J. Evans shows us how historians manage to extract meaning from the recalcitrant past. To materials that are frustratingly meager, or overwhelmingly profuse, they bring an array of tools that range from agreed-upon rules of documentation and powerful computer models to the skilled investigator's sudden insight, all employed with the aim of reconstructing a verifiable, usable past. Evans defends this commitment to historical knowledge from the attacks of postmodernist critics who see all judgments as subjective. Evans brings "a remarkable range, a nose for the archives, a taste for controversy, and a fluent pen" (The New Republic) to this splendid work. "Essential reading for coming generations."-Keith Thomas |
From inside the book
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Page 1
... postmodern age , historians are being compelled to address these questions afresh . Of course , there have been many attempts to tackle them in the past . But they need to be confronted by every new generation of histori- ans in turn ...
... postmodern age , historians are being compelled to address these questions afresh . Of course , there have been many attempts to tackle them in the past . But they need to be confronted by every new generation of histori- ans in turn ...
Page 3
... postmodernist theory , which has called into question many , if not most , of the argu- ments put forward by both of them . " Instead of causes , which Carr regarded as central to historical scholarship , the " linguistic turn " has ...
... postmodernist theory , which has called into question many , if not most , of the argu- ments put forward by both of them . " Instead of causes , which Carr regarded as central to historical scholarship , the " linguistic turn " has ...
Page 4
... postmodernist critique of history that growing numbers of historians themselves are abandoning the search for truth , the belief in objectivity , and the quest for a scientific approach to the past . David Harlan has even gone so far as ...
... postmodernist critique of history that growing numbers of historians themselves are abandoning the search for truth , the belief in objectivity , and the quest for a scientific approach to the past . David Harlan has even gone so far as ...
Page 5
... postmodernism . " While elsewhere , " he noted , " historians are at least discussing the problems of writing social history in the 1990s , indeed the possibility of writing ' history ' at all in these post - modern times , the ...
... postmodernism . " While elsewhere , " he noted , " historians are at least discussing the problems of writing social history in the 1990s , indeed the possibility of writing ' history ' at all in these post - modern times , the ...
Page 6
Richard J. Evans. about history , truth , and objectivity unleashed by postmodernism has become too widespread for ... postmodernist ideas on history as " menacing , " " destruc- tive , " " absurd , " and " meaningless . " " Total ...
Richard J. Evans. about history , truth , and objectivity unleashed by postmodernism has become too widespread for ... postmodernist ideas on history as " menacing , " " destruc- tive , " " absurd , " and " meaningless . " " Total ...
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Common terms and phrases
Abraham American historian American Historical Review Ankersmit Annales school approach argued argument Arthur Marwick belief Britain British Cambridge Carr's causes claim concept contemporary course critics critique cultural debate declared Deconstructing discipline discourse documents Dominick LaCapra E. H. Carr England English European evidence example Frank Ankersmit French G. M. Trevelyan Geoffrey Elton Hayden White historians historical fact historical knowledge historical profession historical research historical scholarship historical writing Historiography History and Post-Modernism History London Holocaust denial human Ibid ideas Intellectual History interpretation J. H. Hexter Journal Joyce Keith Jenkins kind LaCapra language Lawrence Stone linguistic turn literary Marxist meaning modern moral Moreover Munslow Namier narrative Novick objective Oxford past postmodernism postmodernist practice present Purkiss Revolution rians scientific sense Sir Geoffrey Elton Social History social sciences society sources theory things thought tion torians torical tory traditional Trevelyan truth written