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A set to the chin

History of argument, not narrative
by
August 2025, no. 478

John Hirst: Selected writings edited by Chris Feik

Black Inc., $36.99 pb, 336 pp

Buy this book

ABR receives a commission on items purchased through this link. All ABR reviews are fully independent.

A set to the chin

History of argument, not narrative
by
August 2025, no. 478

It is common today for historians to describe what they do as telling stories about the lives and events of the past, using the narrative techniques that they share with fiction writers: describing place, weather, clothes, the set of a leading character’s chin, and so on. But as a disciplined, evidence-based enquiry, history writing is also about argument and interpretation.

John Hirst: Selected writings

John Hirst: Selected writings

edited by Chris Feik

Black Inc., $36.99 pb, 336 pp

Buy this book

ABR receives a commission on items purchased through this link. All ABR reviews are fully independent.

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