Clio's Laws

Reviews / Votes

Clio's Laws constitutes a fresh depiction of the way history is now conceived and written, far removed from the rigid canons established by its historicist founders...A whole gallery of historical figures, professional historians and literary authors file past over the course of the book, hugely enriching what could have been reduced to a general survey of the most important ideas on the relationship between history and language....Clio's Laws is undoubtedly a valuable and original contribution to the field of historiography and historical-literary criticism, as well as to Latin American studies. (Journal of the Philosophy of History) An eccentric assortment of writings that play, mostly in an ironic and irreverent mode, with the transnational topoi of Latin Americanist historiography as the author has lived and performed them over his notable career trajectory from Mexico to Barcelona and Chicago...the torsions of living, translating, and publishing between one or another manner of Spanish and English...animates the entire collection and may be taken to be its primary insight. (Hispanic American Historical Review) Tenorio-Trillo's book will delight any so-called history buff...Clio's Laws includes so many references across Europe and the Americas that it can be both enticing and dizzying for the reader...Tenorio-Trillo shows a respect for the tradition of historiography but has the mindfulness to discuss its current transformations. Readers convinced by Tenorio-Trillo's playful attitude toward historical imagination will enjoy this book in two ways: they will learn a lot about historiography and history writing, and they will see imaginative history writing being practiced. The pleasure of reading Tenorio-Trillo is worth the price of the book. (Chiricu Journal) Expansive and provocative...Clio's Laws provokes deep thoughts about history: not just the standard reflections on objectivity and knowledge, but rather takes the reader through a range of often idiosyncratic topics spanning from the laws of history to personal narratives, historical imagination, memory, and language...Clio's Laws both reminded me of-and exposed me again to-the love of being a historian, reveling in imagination and the very human stories we share and contemplate...This is a book that deserves wide readership, both among graduate students as well as practicing historians needing a reconnection with what makes our calling unique...This is an excellent book. (American Historical Review)