Evans, a cambridgebased historian who specializes in modern german history, was retained by the defense as an. A preeminent historian of germany, his books include death in hamburg and in hitlers shadow. Although irving incessantly argued with evans on the stand about his findings, evans was able to prove that the plaintiffs historical writings are fraudulent and clear evidence of him being a holocaust denier. Evans, an established historian, was hired by the defence to serve as an expert witness. But this is postmodernism in its more moderate guise. Richard evans in defense of history free download as pdf file. Granta books, no date of publication, vii plus 371pp. 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.
It has been described by bernard crick as a rare intellectual achievement, speaking lucidly to both historians and to the general reader, and according to sir keith thomas president of the british academy. In defense of history is a book by the renowned historian of germany, richard evans. Jan 18, 2001 in this volume, english historian richard evans offers a defence of the importance of his craft. Richard j evans is an author and provost of gresham college, london. He is the author of eighteen books, including his threevolume the third reich trilogy 20032008 that has been hailed as brilliant and magisterial. In defense of history 0393319598 by evans, richard j. Sylvia thrupp 190397 was born in england but migrated to british columbia with her family at the age of ve. 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. He has taught at the university of east anglia, where he was professor of european history, and birkbeck, university of. 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 mounts a brilliant and compellingly effective defence of the historian s capacity to reach genuine insights about past events. Buy a cheap copy of in defence of history book by richard j. In defence of history by richard evans 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 spent two years examining irvings work, and presented evidence of irvings misrepresentations, including evidence that irving had knowingly used forged documents as source material. E xp e rt r e p o rt b y p ro fe sso r r ich a rd e va n s. By continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. We also have many ebooks and user guide is also related with in defence of history richard j evans pdf, include. 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. This lecture asks how and why european powers embarked on this trajectory. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Jul 27, 2015 professor sir richard evans speaks about his latest book, the third reich in history and memory before opening the floor to questions. Evans richard j in defence of history w w norton company. 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. Taking us into the historians workshop to show us just how good history. Evans is professor of modern history at cambridge university. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Such an uncritical stance in no way prevents the book from adopting that blunt, hobbesian, manoftheworld aggressive tone which in many circles of historywriting seems to pass for machismo for example, the sarcastic.
In this volume, english historian richard evans offers a defence of the importance of his craft. 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. With the help of a team of research assistants, evans has delved deep into his subjects papers and unearthed a treasure trove of anecdotes and documents, many of which have been supplemented by interviews with friends and colleagues. In this book he defends the standard contemporary view of history against primarily postmodernism, but also the. Evans, a professor of modern history at cambridge, is only the first of what will be a threevolume. Pdf the coming of the third reich download full pdf. Evans, a cambridgebased historian who specializes in modern german history, was retained by the defense as an expert witness, and he chronicles his arduous research effort with impressive lucidity. Please contact a member of library staff for further information. Evans is regius professor emeritus of history at cambridge university, and provost of gresham college in the city of london. Click download or read online button to get in defence of history book now.
Another defence of history from postmodernist criticism was the australian historian keith windschuttles 1994 book, the killing 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. Pdf in defence of history download full pdf book download. Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a library. 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. Evans richard j in defence of history w w norton company 2000 isbn 0 393 31959 from history 14334 at kenyatta university.
Evans was a major expert witness for the defense in david irvings libel suit against deborah lipstadt at being called a lying holocaust denier. This has brought me to in defence of history by richard j. A master practitioner gives us an entertaining tour of the historians workshop and a spirited defense of the search for historical truth. 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. In the course of his trevelyan lectures, delivered in cambridge, broadcast on bbc radio, and printed in a book that has since sold over a quarter of a million copies worldwide, carr sought to answer this question in a number of ways. 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. Perry institute for the study of strategy and politics richard j. The defense of why you can get and get this in defence of history richard j evans sooner is that this is the page 23.
What makes it interesting is that in this case the attack is coming from the left. 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. In this book he defends the standard contemporary view of history against primarily postmodernism, but also the marxism of e. Read online in defence of history richard j evans in defence of history richard j evans professor sir richard evans. Evans in defense of history is a passionate defense of the work done by historians. At a time of deep scepticism about our ability to learn an. Evans, 2015 sir richard john evans, fba, frsl, frhists, flsw born september 29, 1947 is a british historian of modern european history.
Such an uncritical stance in no way prevents the book from adopting that blunt, hobbesian, manoftheworld aggressive tone which in. Richard j evans, professor of modern history, university of cambridge. The literature on postmodernism usefully distinguishes between the moderate and the radical. It is a testimony to the richness of the material that the book runs to over 800 pages. No doubt knowles was right to argue that historians should not engage in explicit moral judgments on the past, an argument which was convenient indeed for him as a catholic monk dealing with english monasticism in the 15th and early 16th centuries, when monks and nuns alike had been widely condemned by protestant historians for all kinds of supposedly immoral behavior. What the fetishising of documents ignores is precisely the activity of the historian, which aims to deliver an intelligent message to his contemporaries as the fruit of his curiosity. Hitlers war aims domination of europe, eliminating potential threat from france, securing economic resources of western europe, and forcing uk to come to terms. 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 ar professor i modern historia vid university of cambridge. In the 19th and 20th centuries, historiographers established scientific methods and standards for the historical profession. Han har undervisat vid university of east anglia och birkbeck college, london. Feb 01, 2018 buy in defence of history by richard j. Download file pdf in defence of history richard j evans in defence of history richard j evans professor sir richard evans.
In particular, my book in defence of history, published by granta books in 1997, has attracted widespread praise. Evans notes that postmodernists believe that the purpose of history is not to search for objective truth, but to take a. Albright and timothy snyder have each written a book about the current threat to democracy, but do they have their history. Granta books 1997 abstract introduction i this book is about how we study history, how we research and write about it, and. In his introduction evans makes clear the book is a response to postmodernist criticism of historical practice. Evans in defence of history is an attack on the influence of postmodernism on the practice of history. Evans, a noted historian of modern europe who was a professor at the university of cambridge and who specialized in german history. What makes it even more interesting is that evans is not even particularly hostile to postmodernism.
In defence of history download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. This pdf is capably known book in the world, of course many people will attempt to own it. The board selected a shortlist of four, each of whom was asked to give a presentation to the entire cambridge history faculty. Jan 14, 2005 in defence of history it is fashionable to say my truth is as valid as yours.
Evans is the first historian to have to apply for the post and be interviewed by a board of electors, including cambridges vicechancellor, alison richard, and representatives of the history faculty and the university, as well as external assessors from yale, harvard, oxford and london. A lucid, muscular, and often sly reflection on the nature of historical knowledge by an experienced practicing historian. Evans, 9780393319590, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. The third reich in history and memory, in richard evans characteristically compelling style, shows us that memory has to be subjected to the close scrutiny of history if it is to stand up to examination, while history s implications for collective cultural memories of nazism must be spelled out with precision as well as with passion. At a time when fact and historical truth are under unprecedented assault, evans shows us why history is necessary. In his compact, spirited survey, richard evans shows us how historians manage to extract meaning from the recalcitrant past. Since the trial, evans has gone on to produce a landmark trilogy on the history of the third reich 2003, 2005, 2008. In defense of history, paperback by evans, richard j. In defence of history has already become a standard text in the teaching of history. Richard evans in defense of history postmodernism historian.
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