On 'What Is History?' : From Carr and Elton to Rorty and White

"On What is History?" is an important new textbook introduction to contemporary historiographical debates.

Carr and Elton are still the starting point for the vast majority of introductory courses on the nature of history.

From the author of "Rethinking History", this book explores in greater detail the influence of these key figures.

Jenkins argues that we need to move beyond their "modernist" thinking and embrace the postmodern approaches of thinkers such as Richard Rorty and Hayden White.

Jenkin's radical critique of Carr and Elton will be seen as iconoclastic and important.

His championing of Rorty and White provides an important introduction to two often neglected, yet seminal theorists of today.