New historians view history in a broad sense, not focusing on one particular aspect of the time period. New historians do not rely solely on documented facts and events. They understand that reconstruction of the past as it truly was is more difficult than a portrayal of how they think that it was. They realize that history may not give the clearest view of events as they actually were. New historians realize that happenings rarely if ever have one single cause.
New historians attempt to break down the barriers between history and literature.
New historians look to redefine the definitions and boundaries which may be associated with a particular literary work, or other nonliterary text. They look for texts in a particular time period which are linked by cultural formation. This formation may be in the form of power, knowledge, and interrelationships. New historians basically look for clues to the past which, although they may not be immediately evident in a literary text, are a link between various works of the same period.