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Overview
In Deconstructing History, Alun Munslow examines history in the postmodern age. He provides an introduction to the debates and issues of postmodernist history. He also surveys the latest research into the relationship between the past, history and historical practice as well as forwarding his own challenging theories.
The book discusses issues of both empiricist and deconstruction positions and considers the arguments of major proponents of both stances, and includes:
- an examination of the character of historical evidence
- exploration of the role of historians
- discussion of the failure of traditional historical methods
- chapters on Hayden White and Michel Foucault
- an evaluation of the importance of historical narrative
- an up to date, comprehensive bibliography
- an extensive and helpful glossary of difficult key terms.
Deconstructing History maps the philosophical field, outlines the controversies involved and assesses the merits of the deconstructionist position. He argues that instead of beginning with the past history begin with its representation by historians.
Editorials
Booknews
Questioning whether history, as a discipline, can accurately recover and represent the content of the past through the form of the narrative, Munslow draws on the work of postmodern theorists to explore such questions as whether empiricism legitimately constitutes history as a separate epistemology; the character of historical evidence and its function; the role of the historian, his or her use of social theory, and the construction of explanatory frameworks in historical understanding; and the significance to historical explanation of narrative form. Paper edition (unseen), $24.99. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.Book Details
Published
March 17, 2006
Publisher
London ; Routledge, c2006.
Pages
248
ISBN
9780203969908