The Gateway to History

by Allan Nevins

In this book, originally published in 1962, one of America’s most distinguished historians defines the scope and variety fo his field and out lines his views on history’s objectives both as a science and as an art. The book provides insight into historians’ methods of interpreting and presenting the past from Thucydides to twentieth century scholarship on Europe and America. It sets apart the different approaches to history – biographical, cultural, intellectual, geographical and political – illuminating the peculiar goals, problems and development of each discipline. It discusses the question of pre-history and its companion science, archaeology and spans the history of the collection and use of records.

Genres: History

440 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1938

About the author

Allan Nevins was an American historian and journalist, renowned for his extensive work on the history of the Civil War and his biographies of such figures as President Grover Cleveland, Hamilton Fish, Henry Ford, and John D. Rockefeller.