Presenting History: Past and Present
'I very much enjoyed reading the chapter on A.J.P. Taylor. Lucid and shrewd, skilfully constructed. This book is joining my MA reading list immediately.' - Professor Chris Wrigley, University of Nottingham, UK 'Professor Beck has written a scholarly and accessible study of the many ways that people write and enjoy history. In a fair and thoughtful way he considers the very many ways that history informs popular culture and how writers deploy it for their own work. For anyone who has ever wondered how much history there 'should' be in a historical novel - Professor Beck provides a number of answers. At a time when history-based films plays and novels are dominating the culture it is an interesting examination of why we love history, and how we use it. - Philippa Gregory, Author 'Peter Beck's well-researched, well-written and hugely engaging book has already become the standard work on this important subject. He is not afraid of making his well-informed views clear, and his book is all the better for it.' - Andrew Roberts, Author,The Storm of War 'Compared to the development of historiography, the problem of the public presentation of history has been rather neglected. Peter J. Beck’sPresenting Historyis therefore in some sense a pioneer work, all the more as it combines studies of presentation by academics (and the problems that may arise) and a consideration of the wider penetration of historical information into the public domain in print and on screen. The book is remarkably well informed, at least to the end of 2011. It is a well planned and lucidly written book which should certainly be read with profit by those who wish to understand our century.' - Professor Eric Hobsbawm, Birkbeck, University of London, UK