Writing contemporary history / by Robert Gildea ... [and others].

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Gildea, Robert.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Historiography.

Physical Description:

xxix, 254 pages ; 17 cm

Place of Publication:

London : Hodder Arnold, 2008.

Summary:

Writing Contemporary History brings together some of the world's pre-eminent historians to discuss the core issues confronting students of contemporary history today. Tackling ten key questions of current historiographical debate, each chapter sets in parallel and in opposition the contributions of two scholars. Questions include: Does gender history have a future? When does colonial history end? What is cultural history now about?

This volume takes to heart the central rationale of the Writing History series, namely to combine theoretical reflection with the practice of producing historical texts. It introduces the reader to a variety of important theoretical approaches in the field of contemporary history writing and asks how these approaches have shaped historical writing in this important sub-discipline. Writing Contemporary History is an invaluable introduction to the central debates that have shaped the field of contemporary history.

Contents:

1 Is there still a place for social history? / Chris Waters, Gerard Noiriel 1

2 Is economic history no longer fashionable? / Patricia Clavin, Michel Margairaz 23

3 What is cultural history now about? / Dominique Kalifa, Michael Kelly 47

4 What future for gender history? / Ruth Harris, Laura Lee Downs 69

5 Has history again become a branch of literature? / Robert Gildea, Jean-Frederic Schaub 95

6 How should historians deal with extreme political change and political violence? / David Andress, Sophie Wahnich 121

7 Where does colonial history end? / Martin Evans, Raphaelle Branche 145

8 Is there a 'tyranny of the present' in the writing of history today? / Alya Aglan, Robert Gildea 169.

ISBN:

9780340950005

0340950005

OCLC:

226974657