“Respected critic Birkerts has written an insightful appreciation of the memoir form, works that occupy a growing . . . place in our literary culture. Analyzing five ways different writers have chosen to transform their memories into coherent narrative, Birkerts discerns the underlying principle of the memoir form: balancing two perspectives by revisiting significant events in the past to discover a pattern in one's present life . . . The appeal of this slim volume lies in Birkert's graceful prose and lucid analysis.”—Publishers Weekly

Writing History 2nd edition provides students and teachers with a comprehensive overview of the emergence and development of history as a discipline and of the major theoretical developments that have informed historical writing. Instead of focusing on theory, the book uses key historical texts to explain key concepts and demonstrate the ways they have informed practical work. This new edition is fully revised, including new chapters on history and the social sciences, history and anthropology and the Annales and history. It is an invaluable introduction to the central debates that have shaped History.