How Many Books Have You Written? - Professor Sir Richard Evans FBA

TL;DR

Historian David Blackbourn discusses his extensive range of books, spanning from lengthy research-based studies to shorter tracts, covering topics such as capital punishment, cholera, social movements, Nazi Germany, historiography, and the history of 19th century Europe.

Transcript

I'm fair loss counted the number of books of Britain but something like 17 or 18 i think they vary from quite large ones such as rituals a retribution which is a history of capital punishment in germany since the 16th century which is over a thousand pages long i had this perhaps misguided idea that i'd only be taken seriously by german professors ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧡 David Blackbourn's work spans various topics, ranging from capital punishment and cholera to social movements, Nazi Germany, and historiography.
• 💦 He believes in building on previous work to establish expertise and make significant contributions to the field of history.
• 📔 Blackbourn's books cover a wide array of aspects related to Nazi Germany, providing a comprehensive understanding of the regime and its impact.
• 💦 Additionally, he has written about the social history of the working class and explored the success and impact of British historians studying the European continent.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are some examples of David Blackbourn's longer books?

David Blackbourn has written lengthy books such as "Rituals of Retribution," which explores the history of capital punishment in Germany since the 16th century, and "Death in Hamburg," a substantial research-based study of cholera in the 19th century.

Q: Why does David Blackbourn believe it is important for historians to build on their previous work?

David Blackbourn believes that building a profile and focusing on related topics allows historians to delve deeper into their chosen subject, establish expertise, and make valuable contributions to the field.

Q: What are some of the topics covered in David Blackbourn's books on Nazi Germany?

David Blackbourn's books on Nazi Germany cover a broad range of aspects, including economic and social history, cultural and political history, military history, and biographies of individuals. He aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the origins, development, and collapse of the Nazi regime.

Q: What is the focus of David Blackbourn's book on historiography?

In his book "In Defense of History," David Blackbourn explores the nature of historical knowledge and the challenges faced by historians. He argues for the importance of defending history as a discipline and emphasizes the need for critical analysis and interpretation.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• David Blackbourn has authored books on a wide range of topics in history, varying in length and subject matter.

• His works include substantial research-based studies on capital punishment in Germany and the history of cholera in the 19th century.

• Blackbourn's books also cover social movements, Nazi Germany, historiography, counterfactual history, and the history of 19th century Europe.