What is History?

Harry Johnson, Year 7

In 1861, E H Carr published a somewhat controversial book, proposing correct procedure and answering the question: ‘what is history?’. This book was contentious as it discussed uncertain topics such as ‘an historian and his facts’ (referring to the importance of factual information and primary sources to the modern historian), ‘history as progress’ (discussing the progressive thinking of historians) and ‘the widening horizon’ (of history and its future).

What is History? explores the complex relationship between an historian and his facts. Carr is shown to have a strong belief in the interpretation of primary sources over the collection of them. We can see his disapproval for the collection when he says, ‘the impatient scholar seeks refuge in scepticism’ (referring to the lack of indepth interpretation and instead, settling on an ‘on the line’ interpretation of the source) This method of ‘interpretation’ is shown throughout this book to give a false sense of meaning to the source and misleads many who believe this to be an efficient method of analysis. Some would consider Carr to be a ‘factual extremist’ (referring to his disbelief in the complacency a fact can engender). To him it was indicative of the progression and efficiency of history that a fact was questioned, analysed and explored deeper through contextual information. His statement ‘First, get your facts straight. Then plunge at your peril into the shifting sands of interpretation’ shows his belief that facts are a necessary component of history, but also that he only truly values those bold and brave enough to seek refuge in the unknown and capricious grounds of interpretation. To Carr, it is analysis of primary sources, not the accumulation of them, that leads to the dynamic and multifaceted embodiment of history. His strong belief was that the interpretation of facts was more important than their convenient collection and the complacency they provide.

Tom Chadwick - Year 8

E H Carr had a modern view of history as a progressive concept. He was aware of the way it had changed throughout his lifetime. The two main differences he finds in history over the ages concern the historian and the information. This refers to the key component-based functionalities of history and the way their changes can affect the meaning and progression of history as a whole. Carr believes an historian is constructed by the interpretations they make. He believes this is an unchanging rule that has been and will continue to be one of the most relevant ‘rules of history’. His understanding of the historian’s importance is apparent when he says: ‘study a historian to study his findings’. The historian who interprets the source has a selective choice of the information he extracts from it. Secondly, the information provided to historians has changed drastically. Modern historians have access to fewer concrete primary sources without the bias raised around the topic supplied by historians before them. He states: ‘few facts have been passed through time without bias’, showing how crucial it is for the modern historian to seek out the ‘rawest’ material in order to build a less biased and more contextualised opinion on the source.

Finally, Carr has a strong and distinctive belief in history as a ‘snow balling’ concept. This refers to the revolutionary findings that take place in the absence of certainty and clearly shows that he believes a true historian values not their individual discovery, but the impact on future historians and history as a whole. He considers any belief other than this to be synonymous with complacency. It is believed by Carr and many other renowned historians, that a historical discovery proves a ‘blank canvas’ for new historians, those that are brave enough to question, interpret, analysis and discover for themselves. This what E H Carr would classify a ‘true’ historian to be. We can see Carr’s strong affirmative belief regarding this topic when he writes: ‘Historians can only hope their discoveries will be superseded’. This shows that Carr holds this process to be admirable and thinks this should be an end goal for an historian. It would be easy to hope your discoveries will ‘go down in history’ or be remembered forever; however, according to Carr, this is a complacent, selfish and unrealistic belief held by ‘sceptical and regressive historians’. It is also the belief of Carr that history will never be complete. He has an overarching, puzzle-like concept of history, that it is the historian’s input that leads us one step closer to this seemingly infinitely-pieced puzzle. History can never be complete, yet so many feel the need to attempt this impossible challenge. In the same way, an historian can only hope to contribute to this puzzle by leaving their mark but ultimately, they must accept and look forward to their puzzle piece being removed and superseded with one that better fits the gap that is their expertise. It is this progressive and forward-thinking mindset that has guided history through the ages. This shows the infinite mass of history and its endless future of monumental importance.

E H Carr was an inspirational, forward-thinking and progressive historian. Thus, his book What is history? reflects those same progressive views and insights. It is a landmark in the acceptance and views of modern-day historians providing an in-depth analysis of the future, functionalities and the creation of history throughout time.

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