REVIEW
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Fifty Key Thinkers on History (2nd Edition) Available from HTANSW:
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Currently the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Teaching and Learning) at Monash University, Marnie Hughes-Warrington was previously Associate Professor in Modern History at Macquarie University, and a recognised authority in historiography. Her recent books include 'How Good an Historian Shall I Be?: R.G. Collingwood, the Historical Imagination and Education' (2003) and 'History Goes to the Movies: Studying History on Film' (2007).
Fifty Key Thinkers on History is the recently published second edition of a book that many teachers of Extension History will already be familiar with. Anyone who has attended Extension History sessions at HTA’s professional development days is also likely to be familiar with Marnie’s wonderfully demystifying presentations on many aspects of historiography. Brilliant university teacher and prolific author notwithstanding, she has been a very generous supporter of HTA’s efforts to resource Extension History.
One of the additions to this new edition is an introductory discussion on the question ‘What is Historiography?’. Even though addressed to a global audience, it seems particularly relevant to those of us who have been struggling to develop an approach to historiography to present to our students. Marnie surveys History as Social Phenomenon, Psychological Studies, Historical Studies and Philosophical Studies. Even though painfully aware that the standard ‘Herodotus to Jenkins’ chronology is no longer an adequate preparation for the Extension History HSC exam, I would have to state a preference for History as ‘Historical Studies of History’. In any case, I found that extracts from this concise essay made a great stimulus source for a half-yearly.
Entries on the fifty key thinkers have been updated and four new thinkers have been added to this edition: Christine De Pizan, Friedrich Nietzche, Keith Jenkins and Richard J. Evans. Jenkins and Evans certainly help with rounding off the chronology! As those who have used the first edition will have found, this book provides a very handy reference for teachers and a concise overview for any student sent off to research a historian. It is highly recommended for any professional or school library.
Paul Kiem, HTANSW
