Is History Fiction?

by Ann Curthoys, John Docker

The relationship between history and fiction has always been a controversial one. Can we ever know that a historical narrative is giving us a true account of what actually happened? Provocative and fascinating, this book is an original and insightful examination of the ways in which history is-and might be-written. It traces Historyâ s doubleness and divided nature, beginning with its founding figures, Herodotus and Thucydides, right up to the key figures of historical reflection, such as Friedrich Nietzsche, Benedetto Croce, Walter Benjamin, Hannah Arendt, Michel Foucault and Hayden White. The authors explore the challenges posed by postmodernism to history and the literary conventions of most historical writing. In this second edition they bring their history of history up to the present in their study of the History Wars and new approaches to world history and environmental history.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Philosophy, World History

304 pages, Paperback

First published November 15, 2005

Reviews

[Lauren Ferguson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Wonderful. Concise.
I read this book as a part of a post-graduate history degree and honestly I kept thinking I wish I had read it earlier. This book covers not only the origins and trends in historiography but also criticisms, areas of future study and an overall reminder of the importance of history that is so often sidelined by modern atrocities, conflicts and scholarly disagreements. Topics are covered fully with comments on leading historians and their place in historiography as well as developing criticism and opposing views. Topics are covered from origins to structuralism, modernism, feminism, postmodernism, poststructuralism, history wars and world history.
A non-threatening coverage of historiography suitable for all levels and one I highly recommend for future historians trying to understand this ever-growing field.

[Miss · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great introduction to some of the core problems of historical writing, historiography and historical science: can we trust the facts? How objective can one write about history? Is history literature in a narrative sense? Through a chronological disposition the reader gets presented with examples and theories from classical Greece up to the history wars of the 21st century. I don't agree with what the authors have in mind for the future endavours of historical narrations but in general this book has been very informative, with many interesting examples and anecdotes. There is a lack of scientific approaches and language somtimes but hey, we are living in a post-postmodern world where almost everything is allowed!

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Our general argument will be that the very doubleness of history — in the space between history as a rigorous scrutiny of sources and history as a part of the world of literary forms — gives it ample room for uncertainty, disagreement, and creativity.”

In a recent discussion about editing, my friend Ella suggested I turn my PhD thesis into a fanfic, in order to procure a free editor. This then led to an interesting conversation about how I would go about doing that. While I’m sure this was not something Curthoys and Docker anticipated when writing Is History Fiction? it ties well into the ideas presented within it. Particularly regarding the role perspective and writing styles have in the development of a historical narrative and truth.

The questions “what is history?” and “how does a historian write it?” are two very prominent topics within this text, neither of which can be answered very easily. If historical truth can be found, how does prose impact it? And if prose does impact historical truth then can we even definitively say the Holocaust happened? (The answer to that is yes btw.) This is a text about the history of history; it’s about understanding history’s construction, and what that means for historical fact and truth. History as a discipline is always changing, as new perspectives enter the field and new questions get asked of its sources. The chapter on gender and female historians was incredibly informative regarding this point, and I think another chapter on the inclusion of historians of colour into the field would have furthered this point nicely.

I found this book particularly interesting, as Curthoys and Docker are Australian, and as such while they provide a general overview of history, it is reflected in the historiography of Australia. For example, they explain why the ‘90s saw a sudden rise in Australian colonial histories analysing the role masculinity had in colonisation. Their front row seats to the Australian History Wars also allowed for an interesting discussion on the impact politics and national stories had on the development of history more widely.

While I think this would be a boring read for someone who doesn’t know much or care about the history of history, I think this should be essential reading for anyone who engages with history in any kind of academic or teaching setting. I’ve been intending on reading this since I did Extension History in year 12, and it did not disappoint.

[Dylan Katthagen]

Ann Curthoys' and John Docker's, Is History Fiction, is a lucid and thought-provoking introduction to the methods, goals, issues, benefits and opportunities surrounding historiography. Following the concise introduction, the esteemed historians initiate the conversation by examining the fathers of historical inquiry—Herodotus and world history, and Thucydides and military history. The conversation, then, naturally extends into several pressing developments, maintaining respectable neutrality and offering informed opinions. Chapter three explains Leopold von Ranke's and Sir Walter Scott's empirical history, and chapters four to eleven investigate historiography as a science and/or art, its utility, its historical inability to prevent the chaos of the twentieth century, and the discipline's relationship to linguistics, feminism, the postmodernist and poststructuralist relativity, the anti-postmodernist desire for objectivity, and the ambiguous interpretation of genocide (Hiroshima, Nanjing massacre and Aboriginal Tasmania). The textbook concludes in chapter twelve with an illustration of world (human) and Big (natural) history, prior to stressing the significance of global loyalty, historical studies and interdisciplinary research.

[Noah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good if you like historiography. If you don't you might slep

[Nate · Rating 3 out of 5]

History of history-writing and philosophy of history. Found it weird when one of the authors included herself in the third person in the history as an example.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting book. As the title obviously suggests, the thesis of the work is history fictional and can we get truth out of it. To learn the answer you will have to read it yourself. Generally it was an interesting, if slightly tedious read. Very important if you are studying history at any level.

[Ari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great history of historical thought and writing.

[Brad · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read for university and looks at how history is interpreted and the History Wars as well that were fought in Australia and other countries.