Product Description

A follow-up to the bestselling The Pursuit of History, this Reader brings together the reflections of a number of major historians on the nature and purpose of their craft.

They illuminate the different governing assumptions - political, social, personal - that have sustained these leading practitioners in their studies, and show how different influences and methodologies have impacted on them.

In so doing, the book not only gives an insight into the great variety of aspirations and convictions that animate History as a discipline, but also brings into focus the key historiographic trends of the English-speaking world since World War II. Key themes which are highlighted include:

The nation
Marxism
People's history
Structural history
Gender
Race
Quantitative history

Ranging widely from the earlier traditions and schools to the wake of postmodernism, authors represented include Braudel, Carr, Elton, Himmelfarb, Hobsbawm, Scott and Zeldin.

This Reader provides the core reading for all History and Theory courses.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #363036 in Books
• Published on: 2008-10-23
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 392 pages

From the Back Cover

"This is an indispensable collection of accessible and stimulating extracts from historians whose works have shaped modern historical practice. This book is crucial reading not only for students of historiography, but also for anyone seeking a wide-ranging introduction to the foundational texts of the discipline."

Professor Robert Shoemaker, History Department, University of Sheffield.

No enterprise as laborious and long-drawn out as the writing of history can be pursued without deeply held convictions as to its purpose and significance. With this in mind, Historians on History addresses the nature of historical enquiry by bringing together in one volume the key writings of many of the best known 20th century historians including Braudel, Carr, Elton, Guha, Hobsbawm, Samuel, Scott, and Zeldin.

This new edition begins with a substantial survey by John Tosh charting historiographical developments over the past sixty years. Each section of readings that follow includes a brief scene-setting introduction and illuminates the political, social and personal assumptions which have governed and sustained historical practice and theory. The selection of readings has been carefully revised to reflect the latest trends. The anthology strikes a balance between the academic mainstream and recent, more radical voices within the discipline. Students thus have access to a wide range of themes and debates, including:

·                    The nation

·                    Marxism

·                    History from Below

·                    Gender

·                    Postcolonialism

·                    History as Social Science

·                    The New Cultural History

·                    Memory and Culture

This now classic Reader continues to provide the core readings for all History and Theory courses and will promote further debate across related disciplines including philosophy and literature.

John Tosh is Professor of History at Roehampton University, London. He is a distinguished historian of gender in modern British history and historiography. He is the author of the best-selling The Pursuit of History, now in its fourth edition (2006), and also Why History Matters (2008).

About the Author
John Tosh is Professor of History at Roehampton University.