The Historian's craft

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he work we have here is a translation of a French work on the methods & practice of history written by Mr. Bloch. Unfinished at the time of his murder at the hands of the Nazis, it remains an interesting look of a French historian's view of history & how history should be approached. His reflections consists of five chapters with the fifth remaining unfinished (completed by another historian). He covers a wide range of how history was written earlier to the present day (up to the 1940s). He points out that much of the earlier history fell far short of accuracy or driven by the need to either cover up or embellish, creating difficulties for successive historians of getting to what really happened. He suggests that historians must observe, have a critical eye, & analyze what is before them. For example, primary documents are considered to be essential yet they are to be regarded with caution depending on what possible motives the authors have in writing them. There is much more & it is sad that the author's life was cut short as he had so much more to say but we shall never know

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction

Chapter I: History, Men and Time
1. The Choice of the Historian
2. History and Men
3. Historical Time
4. The Idol of Origins
5. The Boundaries between Past and Present
6. Understanding the Present by the Past
7. Understanding the Past by the Present

Chapter II: Historical Observation
1. General Characteristics of Historical Oberservation
2. Evidence
3. The Transmission of Evidence

Chapter III: Historical Criticism
1. An Outline of the History of the Critical Method
2. In Pursuit of Fraud and Error
3. Toward a Logic of Critical Method

Chapter IV: Historical Analysis
1. Judging or Understanding?
2. From the Diversity of Human Functions to the Unity of Consciences
3. Nomenclature

Chapter V: Historical Causation

ABOUT MARC BLOCH
Marc Bloch was a French historian who cofounded the Annales School of French social history. He was captured and shot by the Gestapo in 1944 for his work with the French Resistance. He is the author of Méthodologie Historique, French Rural History:… More about Marc Bloch

PRODUCT DETAILS
Mass Market Paperback | $11.96
Published by Vintage
Mar 12, 1964 | 224 Pages | 4-3/16 x 6-7/8 | ISBN 9780394705125
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In this classic work, distinguished French economic historian, Marc Bloch, discusses the techniques of historical observation, analysis, and criticism, and the reestablishment of historical causation in assessing events. What is the value of history? What is the use of history? How do scholars attempt to unpack it and make connections in a responsible manner?

While the topics of historiography and historical methodology have become increasingly popular, Bloch remains an authority. He argues that history is a whole; no period and no topic can be understood except in relation to other periods and topics. And what is unique about Bloch is that he puts his theories into practice; for example, calling upon both his experience serving in WWI as well as his many years spent in peaceful study and reflection. He also argues that written records are not enough; a historian must draw upon maps, place-names, ancient tools, aerial surveys, folklore, and everything that is available.

This is a work that argues constantly for a wider, more human history. For a history that describes how and why people live and work together. There is a living, breathing connection between the past and the present and it is the historian’s responsibility to do it justice.