In Defence of History

by Richard Evans (Author)

• Used

  Paperback
  2001

  $11.98

  In this volume, English historian Richard Evans offers a defence of the importance of his craft. At a time of deep scepticism about our ability to learn anything from the past, even to recapture any serious sense of past cultures and ways of life, Evans shows us why history is both possible and necessary. His demolition of the wilder claims of post-modern historians, who deny the possibility of any realistic grasp of history, seeks to be witty and well-balanced. He takes us into the historians' workshop to show us just how good history gets written, and explains the deadly political dangers of losing a historical perspective on the way we live our lives. This new edition contains an extensive afterword by the author.

• Used

  Paperback
  1998

  $3.86

  'His book is a rare intellectual achievement, speaking lucidly both to historians and the general reader.' Independent 'Evans hits his target. His outspoken and courageous book deserves to be essential reading for coming generations.' New Statesman 'This is a wise and sensible book, which should be read by anyone who cares about the past and the way we think and write about it.' David Cannadine (Independent on Sunday Books of the Year, 1998)

• Used

  Hardcover
  1997

  $11.08

  This volume combines argument about the nature of history with case studies of how good history is written and researched. At a time of deep scepticism about people's ability to learn anything from the past, even to recapture any serious sense of past cultures and ways of life, Richard Evans shows readers why history is both possible and necessary. He demolishes the wilder claims of postmodern historians who deny the possibility of any realistic grasp of history, and explains the political dangers of losing a historical perspective on the way people live their lives. Richard Evans is the author of Death in Hamburg (winner of the Wolfson Literary Award for History) and Rituals of Retribution .