Marc Bloch: A Life in History

by Carole Fink

This 1991 book was the first biography of Marc Bloch (1886–1944), historian, soldier in both world wars, and leader of the Resistance, who was captured, tortured, and died a heroic death. Based largely on Bloch's private letters, diaries and papers, as well as on other unpublished documents, it traces the remarkable life of this French-Jewish patriot under the Third Republic. As an historian, Bloch is perhaps best known for The Historian's Craft, an inspiring set of meditations on his life's work, and as co-founder of the now legendary journal Annales, which gave rise to a major school of historical writing. Profoundly influenced by the dark events that shaped his era - world wars, anti-semitism, and totalitarianism - Bloch has become something of an intellectual hero of our century, his life an epitome of the endeavour to uphold, in the face of such events, the spirit of unfettered critical enquiry.

Genres: History, Biography, European History, Philosophy, Nonfiction, France, 20th Century

392 pages, Paperback

First published August 25, 1989

Reviews

[Boris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the only English biographical work about Bloch, there are other introductions to the historian's life and scholarship, but they are written in French. The book provides us a comprehensive description of Bloch's academic achievement, including the publication of the Annales journal, Feudal Society, and French Rural Society. The historian's participation in the two World Wars and the Resistance were also carefully documented. The last chapter is about how Bloch influenced post-war historiography in France as the Annales School grew more and more popular. Although the appendix calls itself a selected bibliography of Bloch's publications, it is very useful if the reader wants to further his research about Bloch or areas in which he specialized.
It is very easy to read, too.

[Larn E · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the interludes of description of front movements and conflicts in the first and second world wars unhelpful punctuation in an otherwise interesting biography.

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really interesting and well written biography of a very fascinating man but also highly detailed. My senior thesis centers around him so I was glad to find a biography in English and this one not only detailed his life but also that of the men in the family back to his great-grandfather and explored in detail Bloch's achievements and his legacy. I thought it was fascinating but it would probably be too detailed for someone who was only slightly interested in him. Recommend it for anyone interested in Bloch or the Annales school of history but probably a little boring for a more general history fan.

[Julaine]

Good biography but very boring.
Date of purchase?

[Pınar · Rating 4 out of 5]

good