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). |
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Page 23
... linguistic turn' has given us discourses. And history is widely argued to be only one discourse among many. The notion of scientific history, based on the rigorous investigation of primary sources, has been 6 vehemently attacked ...
... linguistic turn' has given us discourses. And history is widely argued to be only one discourse among many. The notion of scientific history, based on the rigorous investigation of primary sources, has been 6 vehemently attacked ...
Page 28
... linguistic analysis as well? Historians should approach the invading hordes of semioticians, post- structuralists, New Historicists, Foucauldians, Lacanians and the rest with more discrimination. Some of them might prove more friendly ...
... linguistic analysis as well? Historians should approach the invading hordes of semioticians, post- structuralists, New Historicists, Foucauldians, Lacanians and the rest with more discrimination. Some of them might prove more friendly ...
Page 33
... Who's afraid of the " linguistic turn " ? The politics of social history and its discontents ' , Social History , Vol . 19 ( 1994 ) , pp . 81–97 , here pp . 96–7 ; and Neville Kirk , ' History , language , ideas and post.
... Who's afraid of the " linguistic turn " ? The politics of social history and its discontents ' , Social History , Vol . 19 ( 1994 ) , pp . 81–97 , here pp . 96–7 ; and Neville Kirk , ' History , language , ideas and post.
Page 34
... linguistic turn " ? ' , p . 81 . 15 Patrick Joyce , ' History and Post - Modernism ' , Past and Present 133 ( November , 1991 ) , pp . 204-9 , here pp . 204–5 . 16 Patrick Joyce , ' The imaginary discontents of social history : a note ...
... linguistic turn " ? ' , p . 81 . 15 Patrick Joyce , ' History and Post - Modernism ' , Past and Present 133 ( November , 1991 ) , pp . 204-9 , here pp . 204–5 . 16 Patrick Joyce , ' The imaginary discontents of social history : a note ...
Page
... linguistic boundary after all . Many writers have argued that history is not a science because while scientific knowledge is cumulative , historical knowledge is not . Clearly , our knowledge of physics or chemistry today rests on the ...
... linguistic boundary after all . Many writers have argued that history is not a science because while scientific knowledge is cumulative , historical knowledge is not . Clearly , our knowledge of physics or chemistry today rests on 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