I've finished a book!
This has taken me ages as all the books on the pile are slow reads. This one began quite well but slowed down as we passed through time heading towards today.
John Burrow was an intellectual historian, and in this book eh seeks to discover why historians wrote, what past they were writing about, and what motivated them.
John reviews history from Herodotus, who gave us the term historia, that is inquiry, as we inquire into the past. Beginning with Herodotus and Thucydides he reviews historians in their periods, though not always chronologically correct, from Greece and Rome and moving into the 'Christian' period.
Then comes secular history, and more recent attempts at studying the past, England, France and the USA. Then comes his treatment of the 20th century, in which he developed his ideas and fame.
I found the book fascinating, especially in the earlier studies, as I at least knew something about them, but his later subjects I sometimes found myself lost, these are no use if you have not read French or other unknown authors. Interesting it was, but confusing to an intellectual misfit like myself.
All who study history will find something in this book, published in 2007, but as it progressed my reading slowed. This speaks more for my lack of knowledge than the authors writing.
Well worth a read, if you have time.
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