This volume combines argument about the nature of history with case studies of how good history is written and researched. Eltons the practice of history as the basic introduction to history as taught in the universities. 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. 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. 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. Evans is a selfdeclared rankean empiricist, committed to rankes view.
Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read in defense of history. 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. This lecture asks how and why european powers embarked on this trajectory. Evans s gripping narrative ranges across a century of social and national conflicts, from the revolutions of 1830 and 1848 to the unification of both germany and italy, from the russoturkish wars to the balkan upheavals that brought this era of relative peace and growing prosperity to an end. In defence of history by richard j evans, granta books, kindle edition, 2001. A preeminent historian of germany, his books include death in hamburg and in hitlers shadow. Evans and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Evans did not really write in defence of history rather, the dominant paradigm of the english empiricist tradition wrote it for him, because he made no critical attempt to interfere with its passage through him onto the page. Taking us into the historians workshop to show us just how good history gets written. Buy in defence of history new ed by evans, richard j. He has taught at the university of east anglia, where he was professor of european history, and birkbeck, university of london, where he was professor of history and vicemaster. Evans, in defence of history, london, granta books, 1997.
In defense of history is a book by the renowned historian of germany, richard evans. Evans is regius professor emeritus of history at cambridge university, and provost of gresham college in the city of london. 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. This site is like a library, you could find million book here by using.
Knighted in 2012 for his services to scholarship, he is the author of many prizewinning and bestselling books, including his acclaimed study of the third reich, whose three volumes have been translated into sixteen languages. 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. Evans mounts a brilliant and compellingly effective defence of the historian s capacity to reach genuine insights about past events. Evans portrays a society rushing headlong to selfdestruction and taking much of europe with it.
His many books include the coming of the third reich 2003, the third reich in. Journal of social history, volume 36, issue 1, fall 2002, pages 242244, jsh. By continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. He has taught at the university of east anglia, where he was professor of european history, and birkbeck, university of.
Pdf download what is history with a new introduction by. In the 19th and 20th centuries, historiographers established scientific methods and standards for the historical profession. 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. Evans was regius professor of history at the university of cambridge from 2008 until his. Richard evans is the author of death in hamburg winner of the wolfson literary award for history and rituals of retribution. Download in defence of history richard j evans book pdf free download link or read online here in pdf. In defence of history richard j evans pdf book manual. Richard evans hopes that this book will take the place of e. Evans s most popular book is the coming of the third reich the history of the. What makes it interesting is that in this case the attack is coming from the left. A preeminent historian of germany, his books include death in.
Isbn 1862070687, granta books, london, september 1997, pp. A lucid, muscular, and often sly reflection on the nature of historical knowledge by an experienced practicing historian. Revised edition, with a new afterword january 2001 continue reading. 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. 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. 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. Evans is professor of modern history at cambridge university. Evans, november 1999 authors response to his critics introduction the book is unnecessary because history doesnt need defending. Evans, contrary to various postmodern thinkers hoping to cast doubt on the possibility of objectivity in history, argues that.
In defence of history richard j evans pdf book manual free. In his compact, spirited survey, richard evans shows us how historians manage to extract meaning from the recalcitrant past. Evans shows us how historians manage to extract meaning from the recalcitrant past. Feb 01, 2018 buy in defence of history by richard j. Granta books, no date of publication, vii plus 371pp. Download what is history with a new introduction by richard j evans in pdf and epub formats for free. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. 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 is the author of eighteen books, including his threevolume the third reich trilogy 20032008 that has been hailed as brilliant and magisterial. There has been an ongoing and vigorous debate in the philosophy of history for the last thirty or so years concerning the ways in which postmodernism should or should not impact the writing of history. For in reading him, one joins company with someone who finds history a matter, as allan nevins long ago put it, of free. What is history with a new introduction by richard j evans book also available for read online, mobi, docx and mobile and kindle reading.
Evans is regius professor emeritus of history at cambridge. Professor antony easthope manchester metropolitan university. Buy a cheap copy of in defence of history book by richard j. The book is unfairly critical of conservative historians. In defence of history aims to take stock of forty years of historical theory and practice after carrs groundsetting what is history ostensibly targeted at postmodernism, the book actually aims to stir a middle ground, praising some cultural history and relinquishing oldfashioned claims of objectivity while claiming there is a legitimate purpose to history writing. In this delightfully polemical book, richard evans does not try to engage the.
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. Richard j evans, professor of modern history, university of cambridge. The book fails to engage directly with the major postmodernist philosophers. Jan 18, 2001 buy in defence of history new ed by evans, richard j. Read online in defence of history richard j evans book pdf free download link book now. Evans has 51 books on goodreads with 57825 ratings. What makes it even more interesting is that evans is not even particularly hostile to postmodernism. A master practitioner gives us an entertaining tour of the historians workshop and a spirited defense of the search for historical truth. Evans offers a fervent and deeply insightful defense of his craft and its importance to civilization. Evans is regius professor emeritus of history at cambridge university.
Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read in defence of history. All books are in clear copy here, and all files are secure so dont worry about it. In this book he defends the standard contemporary view of history against primarily postmodernism, but also the marxism of e. 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 to show us just how good. An absorbing, revelatory, and definitive account of one of the greatest tragedies in human history adroitly blending narrative, description, and analysis, richard j.
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