Altered Pasts: Counterfactuals in History
Ratings1
Average rating4
15
Ratings1
Average rating4
A bullet misses its target in Sarajevo, a would-be Austrian painter gets into the Viennese academy, Lord Halifax becomes British prime minister in 1940: seemingly minor twists of fate on which world-shaking events might have hinged. Alternative history has long been the stuff of parlour games, war-gaming and science fiction, but over the past few decades it has become a popular stomping ground for serious historians. Richard J. Evans now turns a critical, slightly jaundiced eye on the subject. Altered Pasts examines the intellectual fallout from historical counterfactuals. Most importantly, Evans takes counterfactual history seriously, looking at the insights, pitfalls and intellectual implications of changing one thread in the weave of history.
Reviews with the most likes.
Some of the two and three star reviews seem to have wanted some counterfactuals explored at length, something that the title, strap line, and (cool) cover might seem to promise. Rather, this is a scholarly and entertaining exploration of the different types, histories, uses and abuses of counterfactuals and their role in increasing our understanding of historical events. Or not, as is argued here. It does this with some style and incisive analysis while giving right-wing rent-an-academic Naill Ferguson a good doing over, which for me made it worth the gate money on its own.
Recommended.
