History (A Brief Insight)

Do historians reconstruct the truth—or simply tell stories? Professor John Arnold suggests they do both, and that it’s the balance between the two that matters. In a work of metahistory (the study of history itself), he takes us from the fabulous tales of Greek Herodotus to the varied approaches of modern-day professionals. Through fascinating and particular examples—including a medieval murderer, 17th-century colonist, and ex-slave—Dr. Arnold illuminates our relationship to the past by making us aware of how the very nature of “history” has changed.

JOHN H. ARNOLD teaches history at the University of East Anglia, specializing in the medieval period and the philosophy of history. He has written over ten books, including his most recent: What Is Medieval History? (Polity, 2008).