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The Varieties of History: From Voltaire to the Present
From Voltaire to Marx and Engels, this anthology explores history from the viewpoint of historians. The text includes influential works such as “The New Philosophical History” by Voltaire, “History as Biography” by Thomas Carlyle, and “A New Economic History” by R. W. Fogel.
"I cannot imagine a more engaging and instructive introduction to the fascinations of historical writing than Fritz Stern's classic The Varieties of History. "—Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., City University of New York
"This book contains not only an excellent selection of passages which characterize the ideas and the work of leading historians from the eighteenth to the twentieth centuries, but the book in its entirety provides a stimulating survey of the entire development of modern historiography."—Felix Gilbert, The Institute for Advanced Study
"It is by all odds the best kind of introduction to the study and, what is more, to the enjoyment, of history."—Crane Brinton
"I cannot imagine a more engaging and instructive introduction to the fascinations of historical writing than Fritz Stern's classic The Varieties of History. "—Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., City University of New York
"This book contains not only an excellent selection of passages which characterize the ideas and the work of leading historians from the eighteenth to the twentieth centuries, but the book in its entirety provides a stimulating survey of the entire development of modern historiography."—Felix Gilbert, The Institute for Advanced Study
"It is by all odds the best kind of introduction to the study and, what is more, to the enjoyment, of history."—Crane Brinton
544 pages, Paperback
First published September 12, 1956
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188 people want to read
About the author
Fritz Stern
32 books35 followersFritz Richard Stern was born in Breslau, Silesia, to prominent parents: his father, Rudolf Stern, a physician and medical researcher, and his mother, Käthe Brieger Stern, a noted theorist and reformer in the education of young children. After converting from Judaism to Lutheran Protestantism in the 1890s, his family emigrated to the United States in 1938, forced to leave by the virulently anti-Jewish policies of Adolf Hitler's National Socialist government and increasing violence against all Germans of Jewish ancestry. The family settled in New York City where Stern attended Columbia University from which he received his bachelors, masters and PhD. From 1953 to 1997, he was a professor at Columbia, obtaining the eminent Seth Low Chair before attaining the rank of University Professor.
Much of Stern's work tracks the development of the rise of National Socialism in Germany, tracing that the origins of Nazism back to the 19th century völkische movement. In Stern's opinion, the virulently anti-Semitic völkische movement was the result of the "politics of cultural despair" experienced by German intellectuals who were unable to come to grips with modernity. He rejects the Sonderweg interpretation of German history which considers Germany to have followed a unique course from aristocracy into democracy distinct from other European countries. In the 1990s, Stern was a leading critic of the controversial American author Daniel Goldhagen, whose book Hitler's Willing Executioners he denounced as unscholarly and full of Germanophobia.
Another major area of research for Stern has been the history of the Jewish community in Germany and how Jewish and German cultures have influenced each other -- what Stern has often called the "Jewish-German symbiosis," the best examplar of which was Albert Einstein.
Much of Stern's work tracks the development of the rise of National Socialism in Germany, tracing that the origins of Nazism back to the 19th century völkische movement. In Stern's opinion, the virulently anti-Semitic völkische movement was the result of the "politics of cultural despair" experienced by German intellectuals who were unable to come to grips with modernity. He rejects the Sonderweg interpretation of German history which considers Germany to have followed a unique course from aristocracy into democracy distinct from other European countries. In the 1990s, Stern was a leading critic of the controversial American author Daniel Goldhagen, whose book Hitler's Willing Executioners he denounced as unscholarly and full of Germanophobia.
Another major area of research for Stern has been the history of the Jewish community in Germany and how Jewish and German cultures have influenced each other -- what Stern has often called the "Jewish-German symbiosis," the best examplar of which was Albert Einstein.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 7, 2023
Being a history buff only, I was afraid this book would be a way be too much for me. I wasn't disappointed. Certainly, a must for the professional historians, though it does some merit for the amateurs like myself.
The book contains a number of essays written by famous historians or philosophers, explaining how they view history, how it should be worked on and presented to a wider audience. It starts with Voltaire, continues with Macaulay, Carlyle, Fogel and ends with C. Vann Woodward.
They discuss a role of history in society, its increasing specialisation, what its scope should be, what are its aims and its relationship to truth. They also argue that history should not only merely reflect the facts but also aim to explain their causes and rationale.
Perhaps, the most "humorous" are the arguments of historians, either working or supporting the authoritarian or totalitarian regimes. Pokrovsky argues that "history is the concrete investigation of concrete social questions. Most importantly we must unite the historical work we are carrying with the proletariat's fight against wage slavery." Walter Frank, a Nazi historian, declares that German historians are "blood of blood and flesh of flesh of your Revolution and your Reich. We, and with us our work have become great in the turbulence of your Revolution". One best stays away from such "historians"
The book contains a number of essays written by famous historians or philosophers, explaining how they view history, how it should be worked on and presented to a wider audience. It starts with Voltaire, continues with Macaulay, Carlyle, Fogel and ends with C. Vann Woodward.
They discuss a role of history in society, its increasing specialisation, what its scope should be, what are its aims and its relationship to truth. They also argue that history should not only merely reflect the facts but also aim to explain their causes and rationale.
Perhaps, the most "humorous" are the arguments of historians, either working or supporting the authoritarian or totalitarian regimes. Pokrovsky argues that "history is the concrete investigation of concrete social questions. Most importantly we must unite the historical work we are carrying with the proletariat's fight against wage slavery." Walter Frank, a Nazi historian, declares that German historians are "blood of blood and flesh of flesh of your Revolution and your Reich. We, and with us our work have become great in the turbulence of your Revolution". One best stays away from such "historians"
August 6, 2014
Reading through this book is a Herculean effort. I disagree with other reviewers who regard this as an excellent primer for historiography. This book is much more dense than a primer, and rarely mentions historiography, even if that is the focus. The book traces the transformation of History from its esteemed beginning in Philosophy through the increased specialization of the modern era. Stern covers many historians and a few 'pre-historians' in this impressive book.
Stern chooses to let the historians and their precursors speak for themselves. The book is an anthology of musings from many people on the subject of history. Each excerpt answers the general questions: 'what is history to you?' and 'how do you study history?' Some authors are more difficult than others. It is difficult to distinguish between the many excerpts as the differences are almost minimal. A few readings are in response to other readings. And there are some definite breaks in theory such as the debate on whether history belongs to philosophy or literature.
I was hoping to have a primer on historiography. I was hoping to have clear and succinct historical models I can emulate in my own research. However, that is not the case. Stern offers his readers an introduction to each reading, but these are usually less than one page and rarely offers analysis. The introductions are more like biographical sketches. I do not question Stern's knowledge. I question his presentation. The complexity of the readings, the brief introductions, and the overall lack of analysis clearly shows that this book is not for lay audiences; but rather masters in the field. This is not a book for the reader with a casual interest in history.
Stern chooses to let the historians and their precursors speak for themselves. The book is an anthology of musings from many people on the subject of history. Each excerpt answers the general questions: 'what is history to you?' and 'how do you study history?' Some authors are more difficult than others. It is difficult to distinguish between the many excerpts as the differences are almost minimal. A few readings are in response to other readings. And there are some definite breaks in theory such as the debate on whether history belongs to philosophy or literature.
I was hoping to have a primer on historiography. I was hoping to have clear and succinct historical models I can emulate in my own research. However, that is not the case. Stern offers his readers an introduction to each reading, but these are usually less than one page and rarely offers analysis. The introductions are more like biographical sketches. I do not question Stern's knowledge. I question his presentation. The complexity of the readings, the brief introductions, and the overall lack of analysis clearly shows that this book is not for lay audiences; but rather masters in the field. This is not a book for the reader with a casual interest in history.
October 25, 2009
If you don't know what the word "historiography" means, this book should explain it. The essays span a broad cross-section of history, and are definitely the definitive and interesting parts of longer works from the authors, so it was a well-chosen and well-organized book that taught me a lot. If you don't care what the word "historiography" means, this book is not for you.
April 16, 2008
A historian must-read. The quintessential explanation of the different historical movements, their impact, strengths and weaknesses. Understanding this book basically earns you a bachelors in history (minus the other 12000 pages you have to read...)
April 22, 2023
grad school reads - no thoughts just vibes.
January 18, 2008
Excellent primer on historiography: the history of history. It explains the origins and evolution of historical study, from Herotodotus to the 20th century. It is faciniting to learn how the way history has been written has changed through the centuries, and how much of it has been influenced by philosophy.
January 28, 2009
This book is an useful tool in the study of historiography. It is an overview of modern historiography.
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September 22, 2011I was looking for Five Germanys I Have Known by the same author and found this on kindle. I need to order the other book but this looked interesting as well.
October 11, 2015
it could use an update.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews