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
Results 1-5 of 90
Page 24
... century are haunted by a sense of gloom . The intellectual historian David Harlan , writing in 1989 , for example , thought that historical studies were undergoing ' an extended epistemological crisis ' . Writing in the mid - 1990s ...
... century are haunted by a sense of gloom . The intellectual historian David Harlan , writing in 1989 , for example , thought that historical studies were undergoing ' an extended epistemological crisis ' . Writing in the mid - 1990s ...
Page 28
... century, and moving on through economics, sociology, anthropology, statistics, geography, psychology and other alien forces as time has gone on. Lawrence Stone himself has in the past been one of the main advocates – and practitioners ...
... century, and moving on through economics, sociology, anthropology, statistics, geography, psychology and other alien forces as time has gone on. Lawrence Stone himself has in the past been one of the main advocates – and practitioners ...
Page 29
... actual problems experienced by working historians , that the subject in general is of little practical relevance to what historians actually do.34 One of the few twentieth - century scholars who was equally at home in the two fields.
... actual problems experienced by working historians , that the subject in general is of little practical relevance to what historians actually do.34 One of the few twentieth - century scholars who was equally at home in the two fields.
Page 31
... century England , has observed , frequently claim that it ' cannot be withstood.'42 This is true . ' Times have moved on , ' Patrick Joyce has declared , and historians simply have to learn to keep up with them . " 43 Keith Jenkins ...
... century England , has observed , frequently claim that it ' cannot be withstood.'42 This is true . ' Times have moved on , ' Patrick Joyce has declared , and historians simply have to learn to keep up with them . " 43 Keith Jenkins ...
Page 34
... Century Representations ( London , 1996 ) , p . 69 . 12 Allan Megill , ' Recounting the Past : “ Description " , Explanation , and Narrative in Historiography ' , American Historical Review , Vol . 94 ( 1989 ) , pp . 627-53 , here p ...
... Century Representations ( London , 1996 ) , p . 69 . 12 Allan Megill , ' Recounting the Past : “ Description " , Explanation , and Narrative in Historiography ' , American Historical Review , Vol . 94 ( 1989 ) , pp . 627-53 , here p ...
Contents
22 | |
Society and the Individual | |
Objectivity and its Limits | |
Afterword | |
Further Reading | |
Index | |
About the Author | |
Other editions - View all
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