The Death of the Past
2nd Edition
Published on 5. December 2003
Book
Paperback/Softback
XLII, 145 pages
978-1-4039-0698-4 (ISBN)
Description
In this book, J.H. Plumb investigates the way that humankind has, since the beginning of recorded time, moulded the past to give sanction to their institutions of government, their social structure and morality. The past has also been called upon to explain the nature of our destiny in order both to strengthen the objectives of society and to reconcile us to our lot. J.H. Plumb questions this sanction of the past, the force that it has on our sense of destiny and its relevance to our own times. This classic text is now reissued with a new introduction by Niall Ferguson, placing it within a contemporary context, and with a new foreword by the eminent historian Simon Schama, a former student of J.H.Plumb himself.
Reviews / Votes
'Elegant and erudite.' - Economist
'Seldom has he been so apt and subtle.' - Financial Times
'This excellent edition...comes with an intriguing introduction from Niall Ferguson.' - BBC History Magazine
'A welcome reissue of Sir John Plumb's greatest polemic, The Death of the Past.' - Tristram Hunt, The Times
More details
Edition
Second Edition 1969
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Palgrave USA
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Edition type
Revised edition
Illustrations
XLII, 145 p.
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 11 mm
Weight
245 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4039-0698-4 (9781403906984)
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
J.H. (Sir John) PLUMB, FBA, is sometime Emeritus Professor of Modern English History, University of Cambridge and was Master of Christ's College, Cambridge from 1978 to 1982.
NIALL FERGUSON is Professor of Political and Financial History, Jesus College, Oxford. Two of his most recently published books are Empire; The Rise and Demise of the British World Order and the Lessons for Global Power and The Cash Nexus; Money and Power in the Modern World, 1700-2000 .
SIMON SCHAMA , CBE, is University Professor of Art History and History, Columbia University, and is the author of many books, most recently the three volumes of A History of Britain .
NIALL FERGUSON is Professor of Political and Financial History, Jesus College, Oxford. Two of his most recently published books are Empire; The Rise and Demise of the British World Order and the Lessons for Global Power and The Cash Nexus; Money and Power in the Modern World, 1700-2000 .
SIMON SCHAMA , CBE, is University Professor of Art History and History, Columbia University, and is the author of many books, most recently the three volumes of A History of Britain .
Content
Foreword; S.Schama, CBE Introduction The Sanction of the Past The Past as Destiny The Role of History