MAKING HISTORY is an epic exploration of who writes about the past
and how the biases of certain storytellers - whether Julius Caesar,
William Shakespeare or Simon Schama - continue to influence our
ideas about history (and about who we are) today. In this
authoritative and entertaining book, Richard Cohen reveals how
professional historians and other equally significant witnesses
(such as the writers of the Bible, major novelists, dramatists,
journalists and political propagandists) influence what become the
accepted records of human experience. Is there, he asks, even such
a thing as 'objective' history? The depth of Cohen's inquiry and
the delight he takes in his subjects includes the practitioners of
what he calls 'Bad History,' those thieves of history who twist
reality to glorify themselves and conceal their or their country's
behaviour. Cohen investigates the published works and private
utterances of our greatest historical thinkers to discover the
agendas that informed their views of the world, and which in so
many ways have informed ours. From the origins of history-writing,
when such an idea seemed itself revolutionary, through to
television and the digital age, MAKING HISTORY abounds in
captivating figures brought to vivid life, from Thucydides and
Tacitus to Voltaire and Gibbon, from Winston Churchill to Mary
Beard. Rich in character, complex truths and surprising anecdotes,
the result is a unique exploration of both the aims and craft of
history-making. It will lead us to think anew about our past and
ourselves.
General
Imprint: |
Weidenfeld & Nicolson
|
Country of origin: |
United Kingdom |
Release date: |
March 2022 |
Authors: |
Richard Cohen
|
Dimensions: |
238 x 160 x 54mm (L x W x T) |
Format: |
Hardcover
|
Pages: |
784 |
ISBN-13: |
978-1-4746-1577-8 |
Categories: |
Books
|
LSN: |
1-4746-1577-5 |
Barcode: |
9781474615778 |
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