Extollager
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2010
- Messages
- 9,271
I'm starting a thread for discussion of a subject I know little about -- but I hope to learn something.
This thread asks Chrons folk to identify outstanding, readable narrative history. The strong emphasis, in the kind of book appropriate for this thread, is on storytelling: interesting persons, descriptions, and events, a reader-friendly narrative pace, etc. The emphasis will not be on sociological analysis, or dissection of "movements," or picking out "economic factors," etc. -- all of which might have their place. Nor is this thread intended as a place to list & talk about memoirs, biographies, and autobiographies.*
I'm reading Prescott's History of the Conquest of Mexico right now. Parkman's books about France and England in North America would also be specimens. I think Bernard de Voto wrote the kind of thing I have in mind.
Perhaps the thread could focus on books that cover a fairly extensive amount of time and that were written a long time after the events occurred. Thus I would prefer that we not talk about books that deal with, say, just one particular battle or scientific discovery, e.g. books whose focus is on the day-by-day account of (say) the Battle of Gettysburg.
My impression is that the kind of historical writing I'm after is regarded as old-fashioned, and the works that represent the type are sometimes criticized for lack of academic rigor.
Suggestions?
*So, for example, this is not a thread for nomination of Sledge's With the Old Breed, etc.
This thread asks Chrons folk to identify outstanding, readable narrative history. The strong emphasis, in the kind of book appropriate for this thread, is on storytelling: interesting persons, descriptions, and events, a reader-friendly narrative pace, etc. The emphasis will not be on sociological analysis, or dissection of "movements," or picking out "economic factors," etc. -- all of which might have their place. Nor is this thread intended as a place to list & talk about memoirs, biographies, and autobiographies.*
I'm reading Prescott's History of the Conquest of Mexico right now. Parkman's books about France and England in North America would also be specimens. I think Bernard de Voto wrote the kind of thing I have in mind.
Perhaps the thread could focus on books that cover a fairly extensive amount of time and that were written a long time after the events occurred. Thus I would prefer that we not talk about books that deal with, say, just one particular battle or scientific discovery, e.g. books whose focus is on the day-by-day account of (say) the Battle of Gettysburg.
My impression is that the kind of historical writing I'm after is regarded as old-fashioned, and the works that represent the type are sometimes criticized for lack of academic rigor.
Suggestions?
*So, for example, this is not a thread for nomination of Sledge's With the Old Breed, etc.
