Read more
Nation and the Writing of History in China and Britain explores, through a comparative approach, the reception of the nationalist worldview and its effects on the practice of history in China and Britain.
This book proposes that nationalism, rather than a political doctrine, is a way of making sense of the world which results from the combination of a set of definite assumptions. The work analyzes how each one of these premises was accepted and negotiated by literati, intellectuals, historians, and other scholars in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The results of this research showcase how the reception of the new nationalist worldview crucially affected images of the past, the present, and the future in both societies and decisively framed cultural, social, and political debate. In addition, they likewise evidence the fundamental role that historical narratives play in the crystallization of national identities.
This book is perfect for readers interested in China and Britain during this time period, but also to anyone attracted to new ways of conceiving nationalism and its role in our world.
List of contents
1. The Mirror of the Nation: the importance of national histories 2. History in China and Britain during the 19th century 3. The Age of Disorder: The breakup of Whig history and Classical historiography 4. The Echo of the Popular Mind: the nation as a collective 5. Nations United: the evolving politics of national belonging 6. The quest for national continuity
About the author
Asier H. Aguirresarobe is a historian affiliated to the University of the Basque Country. His research interests include nationalism, historiography, and the creation of identity. He has explored these in works like "Is National Identity in Crisis?" (2022), "Concealing Empire" (2021), or "National Frameworks" (2020).
Summary
Nation and the Writing of History in China and Britain explores, through a comparative approach, the reception of the nationalist worldview and its effects on the practice of history in China and Britain.
