The Control of the Past (Paperback)

Patrick Salmon

ISBN 10: 1914477197 / ISBN 13: 9781914477195

Published by University of London, London, 2021

About this Item

Paperback. Herbert Butterfield (19001979) was one of the earliest and strongest critics of what he saw as the British governments attempts to control the past through the writing of so-called, official histories. His famous diatribe against the 'pitfalls' of government-mandated history first appeared in 1949, at a time when the British government was engaged in publishing official histories and diplomatic documents on an unprecedented scale following the Second World War. But why was Butterfield so hostile to official history, and why do his views still matter today? Written by one of the few historians employed by the British government, this important book details how successive governments have applied a selective approach to the past in order to tell or re-tell Britains national history, with implications for the future. Providing a unique overview of the main trends of official history in Britain since the Second World War, the book details how Butterfield came to suspect that the British government was trying to suppress vital documents revealing the Duke of Windsors dealings with Nazi Germany. This seemed to confirm his long-held belief that all governments would seek to manipulate history if they could, and conceal the truth if they could not. At the beginning of the 21st century, official history is still being written and the book concludes with an insiders perspective on the many issues it faces today on freedom of information, social media and reengaging with our nations colonial legacy. Governments have recently been given many reminders that history matters, and it is Herbert Butterfield above all who reminds us that we must remain vigilant in monitoring how they respond to the challenge. How Britain has applied a selective approach to its past in order to tell or re-tell its own national history. Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9781914477195

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Control of the Past (Paperback)
• Publisher: University of London, London
• Publication Date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1914477197
• ISBN 13: 9781914477195
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

A reflection on nation-building, identity, and the stories governments tell us about ourselves.

In 1949, English historian Herbert Butterfield published “Official History: Its Pitfalls and Its Criteria,” a now-famous diatribe against the practice of publishing official history. Butterfield was one of the earliest and strongest critics of what he saw as the British government’s attempts to control the past through the writing of history. But why was Butterfield so hostile to state-sanctioned history, and why do his views still matter today?
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This important new book details how successive governments have applied a selective approach to the past in order to tell or retell Britain’s national history. Providing a unique overview of the main trends of official history in Britain since World War II, the book details how Butterfield came to suspect that the British government was trying to suppress vital documents revealing the Duke of Windsor’s dealings with Nazi Germany. This seemed to confirm his long-held belief that all governments would seek to manipulate history if they could and conceal the truth if they could not.

At the beginning of the twenty-first century, official history is still being written. The Control of the Past concludes with an insider’s perspective on the many issues it faces today—on freedom of information, social media, and reengaging with our nation’s colonial legacy. Governments have recently been given many reminders that history matters, and Butterfield’s work reminds us that we must remain vigilant in monitoring how they respond to the challenge.

About the Author

Patrick Salmon is chief historian at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, a department of the government of the United Kingdom. He is a fellow of the Royal Historical Society and a foreign member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.