History: What and Why? Is a highly accessible introductory survey of historians’ views about the nature and purpose of their subject providing historical perspective and a clear guide to contemporary debates. After a discussion of the traditional model of history as an account of the past ‘as it was’, it assesses important challenges to orthodox views, and examines the impact of Marxism, feminism, and post-colonialism. History: What and Why? Proposes a positive role for historical study in the postmodern era. This second edition has been updated to reflect the continuing, and still increasing, debate surrounding these issues. In particular it discusses: Historians’ fear of postmodernism, Holocaust denial and the Irving/Lipstadt Lebel trial, The future of the past in the light of postmodern challenges.
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