History: An introduction to theory, method and practice Peter Claus and John Marriott (Pearson Education), 2012

461pp., £22.99 paper, ISBN 978-1-4058-1254-2

It is hardly surprising that the theory of history is a subject that many students try to avoid.  In my student days, you were expected to read Carr, Elton and Walsh and whether you agreed with them or not at least they were accessible and readable.  Today, there are myriad texts that many history students find frustrating, difficult and linguistically challenging and consequently historiography and historical theory are often perceived as complex subjects.  Philosophical approaches, postmodernism, anthropology, feminism or Marxism can seem arcane and abstract and many students struggle to apply these ideas in practice. Historians generally do not make good philosophers and philosophers not good historians.  For all the emphasis placed on postmodernism, very few historical studies adopt a postmodern framework.   Given this situation, why should history students care about theory?   

This well-structured and written book addresses this question and starts from the premise that historical theory and historiography are fascinating and exciting topics to study.  Claus and Marriott present a balanced view of the subject that guide students through the various historical theories and approaches in a balanced, comprehensive and engaging way. Packed with intriguing anecdotes from all periods of history and supported by primary extracts from original historical writings, History: An Introduction is the student-friendly text that demystifies the subject with clarity and verve.