Description
Book SynopsisHistorical Imagination examines the threshold between what historians consider to be proper, imagination-free history and the malpractice of excessive imagination, asking where the boundary between the two sits and the limits of permitted imagination for the historian.
We use imagination to refer to a mental skill that encompasses two different tasks: the reconstruction of previously experienced parts of the world and the creation of new objects and experiences with no direct connection to the actual world. In history, imagination means using the mind''s eye to picture both the actual and inactual at the same time. All historical works employ at least some creative imagination, but an excess is considered too much. Under what circumstances are historians permitted to cross this boundary into creative imagination and how far can they go? Supporting theory with relatable examples, Staley shows how historical works are a complex combination of mimetic and c
Trade Review
"An excellent and lucid introduction to one of the key issues in historical practice, examined through engaging examples. It will be read with profit by students of history [and philosophy at all levels."
David Kauffman, University of Edinburgh, UK
Table of ContentsIntroduction: Imagination in History 1. Imagination in the Archives 2. Insertions 3. The modal mood in historical writing 4. The historian’s fancy 5. What if? Conclusion Glossary Bibliography
