My own analysis of the deep structure of the historical imagination of nineteenth century europe is intended to provide a new perspective on the current debate over the nature and function of historical. In sum,thissuggests that white, like croce,regards history asan art. Essays in cultural criticism, the grecoroman tradition, and metahistory. For an analysis of white s earlier work in comparison to metahistory and subsequent publications, see hans kellner, language andhistoricalrepresentation. Myth in metahistory is on long essay on the nature of myth, the eight categories. Hayden white modernism and the sense of history 3 this statement stands in vivid contrast to the view of clement greenberg, the virtual inventor of american modernism, who held that. Hayden white, professor in the program in the history of conscious ness at the university of california, santa cruz, is the author of the tropics of discourse. It was and for me remains one of the best introductions to the book i have ever read. The value of narrativity in the representation of reality. This latent poetic and linguistic content which white dubs the metahistorical element essentially serves as a paradigm for. This was called metahistory, written by hayden white.
The historical imagination in nineteenthcentury europe. White is particularly interested in the problematic posed by the fact that history is a form of narrative, a feature it shares with fiction, and as he shows in metahistory. The historical imagination in 19thcentury europe 1973, this has a significant influence on the range of meanings that can be given to a set of basic facts. Background to metahistory is long essay on the antecedents of metahistory, going back to founding of rome in 747 bce, an event in which mythical and history converge, and coming forward to the modern definition of metahistory proposed by the academic hayden white. The historical imagination in nineteenth century europe. To go beyond history is not solely a human prerogative, for the path. Historical accounts purport to be verbal models, or icons, of specific. Walsh, introduction to the philosophy of history london, 1961, ch. Reviews 193 whatin effect metahistory isattempting todoistocreate a methodology for history suchasnorthropfryeprovided for literarycriticism in the anatomy of criticism namely,to categorize and classify the typesand conventions of particularliteraryforms. On the second page of his introduction white stated. Narrative discourse and historical representation,figural realism. On speculative philosophy of history, see dray, phi losophy of history, pp.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The historical imagination in nineteenthcentury europe is a work of historiography by hayden white first published in 1973. Historical accounts purport to be verbal models, or icons, of. The value of narrativity in the representation of reality hayden white to raise the question of the nature of narrative is to invite reflection on the very nature of culture and, possibly, even on the nature of humanity itself. In this classic work, white argues that a deep structural content lies beyond the surface level of historical texts.
Metahistory gaia and gnosis, deeper ecology, planetary. Hayden white was a historian in the tradition of literary criticism, perhaps most famous for his work metahistory. The historical imagination in nineteenthcentury europe is a work of. Lloyds response is to marwicks mischaracterization of his own work. Jul 02, 2019 hayden white metahistory the historical imagination in nineteenthcentury europe pdf admin july 2, 2019 no comments in whites view, beyond the surface level of the historical text, there is a deep structural, or latent, content that is generally poetic and metahistory. Narrative discourse and historical representation, figural realism. His key fourfold was that of literary emplotments due to northrop frye. Hayden white since its initial publication in 1973, hayden whites metahistory has remained an essential book for understanding the nature of historical writing. In his essay, entitled revisiting history in hayden whites philosophy. Hayden white, the historical text as literary artifact. Hayden white, author of the magisterial metahistory, has died 1928 2018 historians in the news tags.
Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. White thus invites a reading of his work as philosophy, and this volume presents the opportunity for accepting it as such. Narrative discourse and historical representation, and figural realism. The historical imagination in nineteenthcentury europe, 1973 book by hayden white. This article tries to place hayden white s metahistory between two trends.
Hayden white born 1928 is professor emeritus at the university of california, santa cruz, having recently retired from the position of professor of comparative literature at stanford university. This element is, i believe, inexpungeable from discourse in the human icon and the littera in this recent radical critique of mainstream humanistic science. Since its initial publication in 1973, hayden whites metahistory has remained an essential book for understanding the nature of historical writing. Hayden whites metahistory in 1973, historian hayden white published metahistory. Dec 06, 2017 hayden whites most famous piece of work is metahistory. Metahistory concept, the history of history writing, a part of the discipline of historiography. He was professor emeritus at the university of california, santa cruz, and held position of professor of comparative literature at stanford university. White american historian, critic, essayist, and editor.
In this classic work, white argues that a deep structural content lies. Oct 23, 2009 metahistory by hayden white history as literature seems to be the idea behind this book, or at least thats the overall meaning that ive managed to glean from the preface, introduction, and first chapter of hayden whites metahistory. Dec 04, 2014 since its initial publication in 1973, hayden whites metahistory has remained an essential book for understanding the nature of historical writing. The first is the trend towards studying the rhetoric of history. Nov 01, 1973 hayden white was a historian in the tradition of literary criticism, perhaps most famous for his work metahistory. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them.
So natural is the impulse to narrate, so inevitable is the form of. White pdf png and white pdf transparent for download. The historical imagination in nineteenthcentury europe baltimore, 1973. The historical profession in the media agea comment on arthur marwick and hayden white, journal of contemporary history 31, no. Revisiting history in hayden whites philosophy article pdf available in sage open 43 july 2014 with 580 reads how we measure reads. From chronicle to story the series of events as recorded in chronicle or annal is shaped into something with a beginning, a middle and an end. This disambiguation page lists articles associated.
The historical imagination in nineteenthcentury europe 1973. Hayden white for absolute beginners university of oxford. Hayden white is professor emeritus of the histories of consciousness at the university of california, santa cruz. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the us or from the uk, depending on stock availability. It is mostly remembered for the extensive set of theory found in the introduction covering how the historian uses certain techniques to give their work meaning.
Humanity is a species endangered by its beliefs, and most of all, its religious illusion of superiority. My thanks to herman paul and eugen zelenak for providing helpful comments on an earlier draft of this essay. Contrary to the common notion, modernism or the avantgarde didnt make its entrance by breaking with the past. He is the author of a number of books published by johns hopkins, including tropics of discourse. Since its initial publication in 1973, hayden white s metahistory has remained an essential book for understanding the nature of historical writing. Hayden white, author of the magisterial metahistory, has. This article tries to place hayden whites metahistory between two trends. The historical imagination in nineteenthcentury europe by white, hayden isbn.