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 23
... called into question most of the arguments put forward by both of them.5 Instead of causes, which Carr regarded as central to historical scholarship, the 'linguistic turn' has given us discourses. And history is widely argued to be only ...
... called into question most of the arguments put forward by both of them.5 Instead of causes, which Carr regarded as central to historical scholarship, the 'linguistic turn' has given us discourses. And history is widely argued to be only ...
Page 25
... called its ' sclerotic self- satisfaction'12 in the face of the postmodernist challenge , the American medievalist Nancy F. Partner , writing in 1995 , thought this same attitude was ' entirely commendable ' , adding : The theoretical ...
... called its ' sclerotic self- satisfaction'12 in the face of the postmodernist challenge , the American medievalist Nancy F. Partner , writing in 1995 , thought this same attitude was ' entirely commendable ' , adding : The theoretical ...
Page 26
... insights the intellectual equivalent of crack . " 20 It is not only for conservatives like Elton that alarm bells have been set ringing . The left - liberal historian — Lawrence Stone has called upon historians to arm themselves to.
... insights the intellectual equivalent of crack . " 20 It is not only for conservatives like Elton that alarm bells have been set ringing . The left - liberal historian — Lawrence Stone has called upon historians to arm themselves to.
Page 27
Richard J. Evans. Lawrence Stone has called upon historians to arm themselves to repel the new intellectual barbarians at the disciplinary gates . If postmodernists gained any more influence , he warned , ' history might be on the way to ...
Richard J. Evans. Lawrence Stone has called upon historians to arm themselves to repel the new intellectual barbarians at the disciplinary gates . If postmodernists gained any more influence , he warned , ' history might be on the way to ...
Page
... called the ' purest , most immediate documents ' which could be shown to have originated at the time under investigation , and avoid reliance on ' secondary sources ' such as memoirs or histories generated after the event . Moreover ...
... called the ' purest , most immediate documents ' which could be shown to have originated at the time under investigation , and avoid reliance on ' secondary sources ' such as memoirs or histories generated after the event . Moreover ...
Contents
22 | |
Society and the Individual | |
Objectivity and its Limits | |
Afterword | |
Further Reading | |
Index | |
About the Author | |
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Common terms and phrases
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