Title
Past Imperfect: Facts, Fictions, Fraud American History from Bancroft and Parkman to Ambrose, Bellesiles, Ellis, and Goodwin,New
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Woodrow Wilson, a practicing academic historian before he took to politics, defined the importance of history: 'A nation which does not know what it was yesterday, does not know what it is today.' He, like many men of his generation, wanted to impose a version of America's founding identity: it was a land of the free and a home of the brave. But not the braves. Or the slaves. Or the disenfranchised women. So the history of Wilson's generation omitted a significant proportion of the population in favor of a perspective that was predominantly white, male and Protestant.That flaw would become a fissure and eventually a schism. A new history arose which, written in part by radicals and liberals, had little use for the noble and the heroic, and that rankled many who wanted a celebratory rather than a critical history. To this combustible mixture of elements was added the flame of public debate. History in the 1990s was a minefield of competing passions, political views and prejudices. It was dangerous ground, and, at the end of the decade, four of the nation's most respected and popular historians were almost destroyed by it: Michael Bellesiles, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Stephen Ambrose and Joseph Ellis.This is their story, set against the wider narrative of the writing of America's history. It may be, as Flaubert put it, that 'Our ignorance of history makes us libel our own times.' To which he could have added: falsify, plagiarize and politicize, because that's the other story of America's history.
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- Q: What is the main theme of 'Past Imperfect'? A: 'Past Imperfect' explores the complexities and controversies in American history, particularly focusing on how history has been shaped by different narratives and perspectives, often omitting significant portions of the population.
- Q: Who is the author of this book? A: The author of 'Past Imperfect' is Peter C. Hoffer, who is known for his work in academic history.
- Q: What is the publication date of 'Past Imperfect'? A: 'Past Imperfect' was published on July 3, 2007.
- Q: What is the condition of the book being sold? A: The book is categorized as a 'Used Book in Good Condition'.
- Q: How many pages does 'Past Imperfect' have? A: 'Past Imperfect' contains a total of 335 pages.
- Q: What type of binding does the book have? A: The book is available in paperback binding.
- Q: What are the key features of 'Past Imperfect'? A: Key features of 'Past Imperfect' include its critical examination of American history and its discussion of well-known historians' narratives.
- Q: Is there a focus on any particular historical period in the book? A: 'Past Imperfect' primarily focuses on the historical narratives from the late 19th century through the late 20th century, particularly the 1990s.
- Q: What category does this book belong to? A: 'Past Imperfect' is categorized under 'United States' history.
- Q: Does the book discuss the work of specific historians? A: Yes, the book discusses the contributions and controversies surrounding historians like Michael Bellesiles, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Stephen Ambrose, and Joseph Ellis.