In Defence of History“A lucid, muscular, and often sly reflection” on the worth and purpose of historical scholarship by the award-winning author of The Third Reich Trilogy (Kirkus). In this volume, the renowned historian Richard J. Evans offers a fervent and deeply insightful defense of his craft and its importance to civilization. At a time when fact and historical truth are under unprecedented assault, Evans shows us why history is necessary. Taking us into the historians’ workshop, he offers a firsthand look at how good history gets written. In staunch opposition to the wilder claims of postmodern historians, Evans thoroughly dismantles the notion that a realistic grasp of history is impossible to attain. He then goes on to explain the deadly political dangers of losing a historical perspective on the way we live our lives. In the tradition of E.H. Carr’s What Is History? and G.R. Elton’s The Practice of History, Evans’ In Defense of History delivers “a model of lucid and intelligent historiographical analysis” (The Guardian, UK). |
From inside the book
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Page 22
... British historians Edward Hallett Carr and Sir Geoffrey Elton. E. H. Carr's What is History? has been widely used as an introduction to historical study by teachers and students since its first publication in 1961, and it is easy to see ...
... British historians Edward Hallett Carr and Sir Geoffrey Elton. E. H. Carr's What is History? has been widely used as an introduction to historical study by teachers and students since its first publication in 1961, and it is easy to see ...
Page 25
... British historian James Vernon similarly complained in 1994 about his colleagues ' ' general air of complacency ' about postmodernism . ' While elsewhere , ' he noted , ' historians are at least discussing the problems of writing social ...
... British historian James Vernon similarly complained in 1994 about his colleagues ' ' general air of complacency ' about postmodernism . ' While elsewhere , ' he noted , ' historians are at least discussing the problems of writing social ...
Page 26
... British history could describe postmodernism as ' a now all- pervasive academic discourse'.18 In 1995 , even the much- maligned editor of Social History was forced to admit that as a result of the emergence of postmodernism , the ...
... British history could describe postmodernism as ' a now all- pervasive academic discourse'.18 In 1995 , even the much- maligned editor of Social History was forced to admit that as a result of the emergence of postmodernism , the ...
Page 27
... meaning history as practised today , ' is itself in fact the offspring of modernity , ' and therefore part of the intellectual world which postmodernity is now displacing . 28 As Geoff Eley and Keith Nield, two British historians who.
... meaning history as practised today , ' is itself in fact the offspring of modernity , ' and therefore part of the intellectual world which postmodernity is now displacing . 28 As Geoff Eley and Keith Nield, two British historians who.
Page 28
Richard J. Evans. As Geoff Eley and Keith Nield, two British historians who have tried to moderate the debate, have remarked of the two opposing sides: 'A theoretical hauteur instructs a redoubt of methodological conservatism, and the ...
Richard J. Evans. As Geoff Eley and Keith Nield, two British historians who have tried to moderate the debate, have remarked of the two opposing sides: 'A theoretical hauteur instructs a redoubt of methodological conservatism, and the ...
Contents
22 | |
Society and the Individual | |
Objectivity and its Limits | |
Afterword | |
Further Reading | |
Index | |
About the Author | |
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Abraham academic American Historical Review Appleby approach argued argument Arthur Marwick belief Britain British Cambridge Carr's century claim concept contemporary critics critique cultural David debate Defence of History Derrida discipline discourse documents E. H. Carr E. P. Thompson Easthope economic history England Evans evidence example fact Frank Ankersmit French G. M. Trevelyan Geoffrey Elton German Hayden White historians historical knowledge historical profession historical scholarship historical writing Historiography History and Post-Modernism History London Holocaust Holocaust denial Hugh Trevor-Roper Hunt and Jacob ibid ideas ideology Intellectual History Intelligent Person's Guide interpretation J. H. Hexter Keith Jenkins kind LaCapra language Lawrence Stone linguistic turn literary Marxist meaning modern moral Namier narrative Noble Dream Novick objectivity Oxford past Patrick Joyce political postmodernism postmodernist present Purkiss quoted reality Revolution scientific sense Social History social sciences society sources thought Trevelyan Vincent written Zeldin