Reviews (1)

A historian on film
Professor Rosenstone started writing on the subject of film when two of his own books were used as the basis for films, one a documentary, the other a hollywood feature.This book collects his essays, and in doing so shows his evolution from a historian writing/speaking about films in a somewhat negative light to one who realises the advantages and limitations of both media.This text showing one historian's changing opinion offers an excellect resource which helps us not only to understand the topic, but the histiography of it.Other books on this topic are often made up of single essays by historians who though maybe experts in their own field have not delt with the issue of the historical film as thoroughly as Prof. Rosenstone. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Film & Video - History & Criticism    2. General    3. Historical films    4. History and criticism    5. Motion pictures and history    6. Movie/Tv Tie-Ins    7. Pop Arts / Pop Culture    8. Film theory & criticism    9. Historiography    10. History / Historiography   

Reviews (3)

Still relevant....
ON HISTORY is the English translation of a book written by the French historian Fernand Braudel that first appeared in France in 1969.However he is probably best known for his comprehensive works on the Mediterranean and civilization and capitalism in the west in the 15th to 18th centuries. Brief and unsatisfying view of a great historian?s thoughts
Fernand Braudel was/is largely ignored in the English-speaking world, especially the U.S., even though throughout Europe he is considered one of the 20th century's greatest historians. Therefore, it's unfortunate that the collection of articles in "On History" does not provide a more clear introduction to his thought. The articles contained in this book do provide a good view into some of Braudel's main life-long arguments about how historiography should be approached, such as his insistence on the consideration of the long time span (longue duree) or his calls for the unification of all social science methods in the study of history. This is particularly true of articles such as "History and the Social Sciences: The Longue Duree" or the excellent concluding article "The History of Civilizations: The Past Explains the Present." However, since most of the contributions here are often book reviews or polemical essays, the lack of context can often be confusing if, like me, you haven't read the books he is discussing or are unfamiliar with the works of the scholars with whom he is engaged in polemics (usually involving other French, and sometimes German scholars). Although such articles do contain important fragments of Braudel's views on the role of the social sciences and history as a science, they are nonetheless a bit dry and even uninteresting. Taken as a whole, then, "On History" is a somewhat unsatisfying book, even though it should still be required reading for students of history and other social sciences.

Pivotal to ALL Social Sciences students (not only History)!
This compilation of essays and speeches treats the post world wars view on history. But it goes beyond history into empistomology, mathmatics and all social sciences (specially sociology and economy). From the point of viewof a historian writing about historiography he touches subjects such assinchrony, cronology, time, the role of history in social sciences, scienceof the communications, etc. Although I didn't always agree with the authorin his historical determinism and the long duration of proccesses, hisviews certainly are pivotal to all social sciences since he recycles themarxists ideas such as that <Read more

Subjects:  1. Historiography    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. History / Historiography    6. History: theory & methods   

Reviews (4)

primarily for reference
Three stars is a bit un-generous and, for the right purpose, this book deserves more.I was looking for an intelligent, not dumbed-down synthesis.Certainly the book is intelligent, well researched, apparently encyclopedic.It is an excellent reference.What it is NOT (at least for me) is a book to read through.This is why:(1) I found the retention of the notes in the middle of the text very distracting.Although I am sure you can get used to it, it really breaks up the continuity between sentences.The fact that the book IS so very well noted aggravates the problem of reading through the notes in the text.(2) A great deal of knowledge about skeletal anatomy is assumed.Although I am reasonably well-read, I do not know the names of all of the the skeletal parts and the potential medical abnormalities, which made parts of the book read like a foreign language.A glossary would have been helpful to me. (3) The information felt very "episodic" to me -- not much more than a paragraph on any topic.This made it hard to stay engaged, because each topic was over just as I was becoming interested.
An excellence and thoroughness in exposure of the subject.
A quite outstanding clarity in usage of concepts that used to be property of paleoanthropology is achivied here that will certainly provide archaeologists with full account on value of skeletal samples in forensicanalysis that includes not only well known paleopathological procedures,buta very vividly exposed summarisation of pecularities that are to be foundwithin skeletal samples of non-pathological character,thus providing fulland fruithfull synthesis between social and biological sciencies.Back-upwith solid refference and carefull,non-spectacular exposure of results thatare achievable conclusive to book's publishing,caries insight intoarchaeological methodology a large step further.

Good outline ofthe new bioanthropology
What make this book unique is its dealing with various interaction between humans and their ecological milleau in a non-procedural fashion,but rather in an affirmative one.Examplesfrom which author derives his conclusionsare drawn mostly from North American stone age,but some sites fromEuroasian as well as African prehistory are also discussed.Even a readerwithelementary knowledge of human biology can comprehend this book,by itsvirtue of presenting logic of deduction about biological realities,quiteunlike mechanical and mathematic idealisations of old physycalanthropology.Highly recomended title not only for anthropologists andarchaeologists but also for everybody dealing with historical andpaleosociological issues. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Life Sciences - Biology - General    2. Paleontology    3. Science    4. Science/Mathematics    5. Archaeological methodology & techniques    6. Archaeological theory    7. Biological anthropology    8. Historiography    9. Human remains (Archaeology)    10. Science / Biology   

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Civilization    3. Europe - Great Britain - General    4. Folklore & Mythology    5. Great Britain    6. Great Britain - History    7. Historiography    8. History    9. History: World    10. Social aspects    11. Sociology    12. British & Irish history    13. History of ideas, intellectual history    14. Myths & mythology    15. Nationalism    16. United Kingdom, Great Britain   

Subjects:  1. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General    2. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - Histor    3. General    4. Historiography    5. History    6. History - General History    7. Political aspects    8. Slavery    9. Social Science    10. Sociology    11. United States    12. Slavery & emancipation    13. Social Science / African-American Studies    14. Social history    15. USA   

Reviews (2)

Simple intro
This book is fairly short (111 pgs with not a lot of print on them,) but is a great introduction to writing for history classes.It doesn't go into lots of detail, it is very basic.
Ideal for advanced undergraduate students of history
Storey, developed this text for a writing program at Harvard.A historian by training, Storey does an excellent job of describing basic and advanced research and writing techniques.His text is succinct and lively, filledwith well chosen examples.If you have ever wondered about the differencebetween a primary and secondary source or how to deal with contradictoryevidence, this is the book for you.I assign it in my writing courses. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Academic writing    2. Composition & Creative Writing - General    3. Historiography    4. History    5. History - General History    6. Language    7. Language Arts & Disciplines    8. Research    9. Study & Teaching    10. World - General    11. History / Study & Teaching    12. History, World    13. Writing & editing guides   

Subjects:  1. America    2. Americas (North Central South West Indies)    3. Colonization    4. Europe    5. First contact with Europeans    6. Frontier and pioneer life    7. Historiography    8. History    9. History - General History    10. History: World    11. Imperialism    12. Indians of North America    13. To 1810    14. World - Colonial Studies    15. American history    16. History / United States / General    17. International relations    18. International trade    19. The Americas    20. World history   

Subjects:  1. General    2. Historiography    3. History    4. History - General History    5. Philosophy    6. Political   

Reviews (6)

Lee and his generals in war and memory
A collection of essays by Gary Gallagher (not an anthology like many of the other books with his name on them) mostly about Lee, his generals, and Lee's image during and after the war.
Great Detail on Lee, worthy of Douglas Freeman
Excellent book on Lee and his generals. Covers Lee's unique hands off style and his relationships with his senior staff with mini biographies. The best part of the book is how Lee deals with adversity particularly after Longstreet is shot down in the Wilderness, Ewell is relieved at Spotsylvania and Hill becomes bed ridden. Lee has to rise above it all and pick interim successors in a time of crisis with Grant bearing down. Lee has to make crucial personal decisions with limited experienced staff and take a greater role. One of Gallagher's best books.

Thoughtful Essays on the Confederate War Effort
Professor Gary Gallagher is a rarity among writers on the Civil War in his ability to appeal to both scholarly and lay audiences. He shares this ability with Professor James McPherson but with few others. Unlike Professor McPherson, Gallagher's writings concentrate on the Confederate war effort.He brings an obvious sympathy and understanding for his subject without overromanticizing of glorifying it.This is also highly unusual among writers on the Civil War.His essays are informed, through, balanced, and inspiring.They are a pleasure to read.Read more

Subjects:  1. Historiography    2. History    3. History - Military / War    4. History: American    5. Military - General    6. United States - Civil War    7. American history: c 1800 to c 1900    8. Biography: historical    9. USA   

Reviews (1)

This time he's gone too far!
In this collection of essays, one of my favorite holocaust scholars picks a major fight with one of my favorite holocaust writers, Anne Frank.The resulting slugfest is a confusing mess.Though Ms. Frank cannot defend herself due to her murder, Professor Langer lays on the criticism.He doesn't appreciate her upbeat attitude towards life, he's very strict about her ignorance of the horrors that were occurring around her, and most of all he hates that she's been made the major symbolic figure of the holocaust. Next Holocaust, I'll let Langer pick a better symbol.As for Anne Frank, her writing speaks for itself.
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Subjects:  1. Historiography    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History and criticism    5. History: World    6. Holocaust    7. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    8. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945), in literature    9. Influence    10. Personal narratives    11. Europe    12. Other warfare & defence issues    13. The Holocaust   

Subjects:  1. Historiography    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Philosophy   

Reviews (1)

Brilliant
Ricoeur, who died in 2005, had an obscure type of fame, but one that will grow exponentially as his ideas are understood more and more. This mind-blowing volume takes Augustine's and Aristotle's views on time and synthesizes them into a position on how narrative works. Great stuff. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Historiography    3. History    4. Literature - Classics / Criticism    5. Mimesis in literature    6. Narration (Rhetoric)    7. Philosophy    8. Plots (Drama, novel, etc.)    9. Theory Of Literature    10. Time in literature    11. History: theory & methods    12. Literary Criticism & Collections / General    13. Rhetoric   

Subjects:  1. Historiography    2. History    3. History: World    4. Celtic languages    5. Literary studies: classical, early & medieval    6. Wales    7. Welsh   

Subjects:  1. 16th century    2. 17th century    3. Church history    4. England    5. Europe - Great Britain - General    6. History    7. History - General History    8. History: World    9. Reformation    10. British & Irish history: c 1500 to c 1700    11. Historiography    12. History / General    13. c 1500 to c 1600    14. c 1600 to c 1700   

Subjects:  1. Ancient and Classical    2. Civilization, Ancient, in lite    3. Civilization, Ancient, in literature    4. Historiography    5. History and criticism    6. History, Ancient    7. Latin literature    8. Literary Criticism    9. Literature - Classics / Criticism    10. Roman Literature    11. Ancient (Classical) Greek    12. Ancient Rome    13. European history: BCE to c 500 CE    14. History / Ancient / General    15. Literary studies: classical, early & medieval   

Reviews (4)

Crossroads of Hercules
I'll take a stab at the layman's review of Vico's "New Science"-I don't mind falling short-because I love this book.Do folks out there read Vico?Not scholars, not students (and I'm so glad there won't be an essay to follow on Marx's and Vico's negative views of human nature), but rather regular folks like me who maybe want to fill in some holes in their knowledge?Why I read Vico:Because Harold Bloom in his "Canon" anxiously follows Vico in prophesying a second Theocratic Age as imminent.I'm not altogether sure what that means, but it hit me as a startlingly prescient thing to write about before the millenium's turn.In my opinion, this is the book of the hour.Is there a more important book to read right now?How can one think well about terrorism, for example, without reading "The Recourse of Human Institutions Which the Nations Take When They Rise Again"?How can one think well about illegal immigrants marching in the streets without knowledge of Vico's "gentes" or "famuli"?This is a rare book, one that makes everything pop into clearer focus-law, poetics, politics, myth-like a new optical prescription you didn't know you needed.(And can you imagine a world in which intelligent journalists steeped in Vico carried on intelligent exchanges with a president steeped in Vico?But no.)
Read Vico!
When I read Vico in a public space--subway, park bench, stoop--I always fear that someone will approach me and ask what his "general thing" is. Even after reading this book for a few years, I still really don't know. I'd probably say something like "it's about history and poetry and salt marshes and thunder."
Often Overlooked Masterpiece
Most people come to Vico for one of three reasons:historical perspective (fans of Spengler), philosophical curiosity (fans of Marx), or literary insight (fans of Joyce).Regardless of the motivation, the reader will be confronted with a highly unconventional text at first:the open of the book is an overlong explanation of the bookplate.Then we are faced with a collection of Nietzschian aphorisms.By the third part of the book, if the second part hasn't trigged an interest, the explication of parts 1 and 2 grab and take hold of the reader.The result?Once the reader finishes the book, the seemingly obtuse open seems perfectly reasonable for in the course of the text for Vico assimilates history, anthropology, philosophy, philology, and genealogy into a comprehensive whole which is perfectly symbolized by the bookplate.Though, at times, his premises seem rather far-fetched (Vico himself notes this), the intent of the work is rarely obscured.The only complaint?Perhaps Vico could have expanded the work more to make his attempted scope and range cohere better.But then, Frazier did this in a similar work (The Golden Bough) and we have 12 volumes to show for it! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Early works to 1800    2. Historiography    3. History    4. History & Surveys - Modern    5. History: American    6. Philosophy    7. Philosophy Of The 18th Century    8. Poetry    9. Social Philosophy    10. Social sciences    11. History of science   

Subjects:  1. 1886-1944    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Bloch, Marc Leopold Benjamin,    7. Bloch, Marc Lâeopold Benjamin,    8. Europe - General    9. France    10. General    11. Historians    12. Historians, French    13. Medical - General    14. 20th century    15. Bloch - Marc Leopold Benjamin, - 1886-1944    16. Historiography    17. History / Europe / General   

Subjects:  1. Collective memory    2. General    3. Historiography    4. History    5. History - General History    6. Memory    7. Philosophy    8. Public history    9. Social aspects    10. Cognition & cognitive psychology    11. Conscious & unconscious   

Features

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Reviews (1)

A very good book
It's not a primer, but a book then everyone involved in medieval history can't miss. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. History    2. History - General History    3. History: World    4. Medieval    5. Middle Ages    6. Europe    7. European history (ie other than Britain & Ireland)    8. Historiography    9. History / Medieval    10. MIDDLE AGES_HISTORY    11. World history: c 500 to C 1500   

Reviews (1)

Interesting Argument Well Presented
Khalidi's thesis is that 4 approaches dominated classical Arabichistoriography. In chronological order, they are hadith, adab, hikma andsiyasa. The hadith approach focused on judging the authenticity ofhistorical reports by examining the chain of transmission. Adab is oftentranslated as "belles-lettres". This approach focused on themoral and intellectual lessons taught by history. Hikma refers to thesecular sciences which inspired a more all encompassing historiographicapproach. Finally, siyasa, the science of good government, led tocomprehensive histories often designed for bureaucrats.Read more

Subjects:  1. Historiography    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Islamic Empire    6. Middle East - General    7. World - General    8. Asian / Middle Eastern history: c 500 to c 1500    9. History / Middle East    10. Islamic Empire--Historiography    11. Middle East    12. Other Geographical Groupings, Oceans & Seas    13. World history