In defence of history under the onslaught of postmodernist theory, the profession of history is in crisis, its assumptions derided and its methods rejected as outmoded. His defense of history although now a bit dated remains an excellent overview of the. Richard evans wrote in defence of history at a time when the historians profession was coming under heavy attack as a result of the cultural turn taken by the discipline during the late 1980s and the 1990s. In this book he sets out a considered course for the practice of history, one that aims to pursue a course between the twin evils of overly conservative, objective positivism and a leftleaning, liberal postmodernism. Richard evans hopes that this book will take the place of e. But i found in defence of history less good at theory. In this book he defends the standard contemporary view. Evans, born in 1947, wrote in defence of history book while he was working at the university of london and was professorelect of modern history at the university of cambridge. Evans pulls absolutely no punches, and his historiographical erudition is monumental he is a cambridge professor, by the way. It is difficult to imagine a stronger or more convincing case than evanss for the distinctiveness of historical knowledge as a mode of human thought. In this volume, english historian richard evans offers a defence of the importance of his craft.
A fathers love turned into a full time career for an advertising executive when he got an idea to write a christmas story for his kids. In this book he defends the standard contemporary view of history against primarily postmodernism, but also the. Richard evans is professor of modern history at cambridge university, and a fellow of gonville and caius college, cambridge. A preeminent historian of germany, his books include death in. Jan 01, 1997 richard evans in defense of history is, according the authors introductory claims, a work of reflection on the state of the profession written by an active professional. This lecture asks how and why european powers embarked on this trajectory. Evans mounts a brilliant and compellingly effective defence of the historians capacity to reach genuine insights about past events. Its the old debate between the doer and the thinker, no tolerance for the other.
Richard evans offers a spirited and elegant defence of the discipline. He is the author of eighteen books, including his threevolume the third reich trilogy 20032008 that has been hailed as brilliant and magisterial. Evans covering the rise and collapse of nazi germany in detail, with a focus on the internal politics and the decisionmaking process. Pdf download in defence of history free unquote books. In light of the postmodern shift there have been many philosophers and even historians who have argued that there is no way to do objective history. The book gives an overview of some of the major movements in the study of history over the past 200 years, but its primary objective is to defend history from postmodernists. Taking us into the historians workshop to show us just how good history gets written. The classic explanation of the craft of history and the vital worth of historians to civilization in this volume, english historian richard evans offers a defence of the importance of his craft. Evans in defense of history is a passionate defense of the work done by historians.
Jan 18, 2001 i read in defence of history by evans as a part of a project on the changing nature of historiography and it was thoroughly fascinating. Jul 05, 2017 richard evans wrote in defence of history at a time when the historians profession was coming under heavy attack as a result of the cultural turn taken by the discipline during the late 1980s and the 1990s. In the weird, ideologically deformed parallel universe inhabited by messrs gove, schama and ferguson, and among your respondents in this issue and the previous one, lang, mcgovern, arends and tombs, history in our schools is in a state of terminal decline, facts have more or less disappeared from the curriculum, the. Nov 01, 2012 the classic explanation of the craft of history and the vital worth of historians to civilizationin this volume, english historian richard evans offers a defence of the importance of his craft.
I read in defence of history by evans as a part of a project on the changing nature of historiography and it was thoroughly fascinating. For some on the left postmodernism is the overriding enemy, so that we should, in trotskys words, unite with the devil and his granddam to. 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. Hence our need to guard against the alltooeasy tendency to interpret the past through the way we perceive our own world today. In the 19th and 20th centuries, historiographers established scientific methods and standards for the historical profession. Evans, contrary to various postmodern thinkers hoping to cast doubt on the possibility of objectivity in history, argues that. Richard j evans, professor of modern history, university of cambridge. Granta books, no date of publication, vii plus 371pp. A lucid, muscular, and often sly reflection on the worth and purpose of historical scholarship by the awardwinning author of the third reich trilogy kirkus. A preeminent historian of germany, his books include death in hamburg and in hitlers shadow. The classic explanation of the craft of history and the vital worth of historians to civilizationin this volume, english historian richard evans offers a defence of the importance of his craft. I am a great fan of richard evans and have read several of his books. You can gate the books wherever you want even you are in the bus, office, home, and new places.
Aug 15, 2012 although originally written fifteen years ago, richard evans in defence of history is still a book i would recommend to both students of history, and those simply curious about the possibility of historical knowledge. Although originally written fifteen years ago, richard evans in defence of history is still a book i would recommend to both students of history, and those simply curious about the possibility of historical knowledge. It works especially well for those who have read what is history by e h carr, as these two books pair nicely by giving different perceptions of history, although contrasting it as well due to evans writing on the turn of the century whilst carr wrote in the 60s. He wanted them to fully understand his love and appreciate the sacrifices and joys it brings without waiting for them to grow up and experience being a. Evans, including the third reich at war, 19391945, and the third reich in power 19331939, and more on. Sir richard john evans fba frsl frhists flsw born 29 september 1947 is a british historian of 19th and 20thcentury europe with a focus on germany. In defence of history has already become a standard text in the teaching of history. His demolition of the wilder claims of postmodern historians, who deny the possibility. In this way, it ostensibly mirrors earlier works by e. His defense of history although now a bit dated remains an excellent overview of the some of the controversies that have challenged historiography in the past few decades. In this controversial but also celebrated book, evans tried to explain why the profession of history was in crisis in the 1990s. 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.
Professor antony easthope manchester metropolitan university. It is difficult to imagine a stronger or more convincing case than evans s for the distinctiveness of historical knowledge as a mode of human thought. Historians were being forced to face up to postmodern thinking, which argued that, because all texts were the product of biased writers who had incomplete information, none could be. It works especially well for those who have read what is history by e h carr, as these two books pair nicely by giving different perceptions of history, although contrasting it as well due to evans writing on.
Buy in defence of history new ed by evans, richard j. At a time when fact and historical truth are under unprecedented assault, evans shows us why history is. According to ian kershaw, it is the most comprehensive history in any language of the disastrous epoch of. Professor sir richard evans speaks about his latest book, the third reich in history and memory before opening the floor to questions. A lucid, muscular, and often sly reflection on the nature of historical knowledge by an experienced practicing historian. Richard evans in defense of history is, according the authors introductory claims, a work of reflection on the state of the profession written by an active professional. Evans shows us how historians manage to extract meaning from the recalcitrant past. For in reading him, one joins company with someone who finds history a matter, as allan nevins long ago put it, of free. His other books include in hitlers shadow and rereading german history.
Indeed, his own defence in the face of his books critics, provided in the afterword, is probably the books most readable part. Counterfactual history is misguided and outdated, as the first world war debate shows richard j evans thu mar 2014 06. Richard evans book, in defense of history is not for everyone. But, you may not obsession to pretend to have or bring the autograph. He brings to the conversation an enlightened outlook of his craft. Feb 01, 2018 i read in defence of history by evans as a part of a project on the changing nature of historiography and it was thoroughly fascinating. In the introduction to his book, richard evans expressed this idea clearly.
At a time when fact and historical truth are under unprecedented assault, evans shows us why history is necessary. Published in the london socialist historians group newsletter, summer 1998. Evans offers a fervent and deeply insightful defense of his craft and its importance to civilization. According to ian kershaw, it is the most comprehensive history in any language of the disastrous epoch of the third reich, which has been hailed as a. The classic explanation of the craft of history and the vital worth of historians to civilizationin this volume, english historian richard evans offers. In defense of history is a book by the renowned historian of germany, richard evans. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read in defence of history. Buy a cheap copy of in defence of history book by richard j. Mar, 2014 counterfactual history is misguided and outdated, as the first world war debate shows richard j evans thu mar 2014 06. A master practitioner gives us an entertaining tour of the historians workshop and a spirited defense of the search for historical truth. Historians were being forced to face up to postmodern thinking, which argued that, because all texts were the product of biased. Carr and geoffrey elton, both of whom the author often cites.
The third reich trilogy is a series of three narrative history books by the british historian richard j. The theory of history is too important a matter to be left to the theoreticians p. From the 1880s through to the first world war, european empires slowly imposed their control on the territories that in many cases existed merely on paper. Readers who enjoyed peter ghoshs elegant dismantling of richard evanss case for rankean empiricism lrb, 15 october may wish to go on to read quentin skinners essay on geoffrey eltons defence of history transactions of the royal historical society, sixth series, volume vii, 1997, which it complements admirably. Evans is professor of modern history at cambridge university. He wanted them to fully understand his love and appreciate the sacrifices and joys it brings without waiting for them to grow up and experience being a parent.
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