The Varieties of History: From Voltaire to the Present

This book functions as a contribution to historical theory. The book is a collection of statements from three dozen historians over the past two centuries as to what the craft of history is, or at least ought to be. These statements have been extracted from prefaces, prospectuses to historical journals, and presidential addresses. The essays in the book are arranged in chronological order and are concerned with the definition of history as a field of study, either as a science of the unique, or as a science that seeks uniformities. The essays also describe the historian's tools and techniques, and how thematic purpose is established, but the various topics are not integrated into a single central theme or grand debate. Fritz Stern himself has contributed a thoughtful and eloquent introductory essay in which he traces recent historical debate on whether history is a science. Stern also discusses the complex problem of the ethical responsibilities of the historian.