Research Catalog

Title

What is history? / by Edward Hallett Carr.

Author

Carr, Edward Hallett, 1892-1982

Publication

New York : Vintage Books, c1961.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

Chandler, Alfred D. (Alfred Dupont), 1918-2007

Description

209, iii p.; 19 cm.

Summary

• Who is to say how things really were? In formulating a modern answer to the question 'What is History?' Professor Carr shows that the 'facts' of history are simply those which historians have selected for scrutiny. Millions have crossed the Rubicon, but the historians tell us that only Caesar's crossing was significant. All historical facts come to us as a result of interpretative choices by historians influenced by the standards of their age. Yet if absolute objectivity is impossible, the role of the historian need in no way suffer; nor does history lose its fascination. With lucidity, Carr casts a light on the proper function of the historian and the vital importance of history in modern society. --
• [In this volume, the author] tackles half a dozen of the most fundamental questions concerning the interpretation of human social experience. He handles each of these with such mastery as we seldom see. --

Series Statement

The George Macaulay Trevelyan lectures ; 1961

Uniform Title

Trevelyan lectures ; 1961.

Subjects

• Lectures
• History > Philosophy

Genre/Form

Lectures

Note

• "The George Macaulay Trevelyan Lectures delivered at the University of Cambridge January-March 1961."

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references and index.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

The historian and his facts -- Society and the individual -- History, science, and morality -- Causation in history -- History as progress -- The widening horizon.

ISBN

039470391X

OCLC

• 12848663
• SCSB-9985917

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library