On Historical Distance

Salber Phillips Mark

Conceptions of distance are foundational to historical thought, but Mark Salber Phillips gives the idea new subtlety and meaning. He argues that distance is a matter not just of time and space but also of form, affect, ideology, and understanding. In this exceptionally wide-ranging study, Phillips examines Renaissance, Enlightenment, and contemporary histories, as well as a broad spectrum of historical genres – including local history, literary history, counter-factual fiction, history painting, and museology.

About the Author

Mark Salber Phillips is professor of history at Carleton University, Ottawa. He is the author of "Society and Sentiment: Genres of Historical Thought in Britain, 1740-1820", as well as studies on the Italian Renaissance and on the concept of tradition.

Reviews

"'On Historical Distance' throws into relief a feature of historical writing so fundamental that it has escaped sustained attention until now. Combining a heuristic analysis of kinds of distance with examples culled from three distinct periods, Mark Phillips also ventures into literary history and history painting. A thoughtful and original work" – Michael McKeon, Rutgers University

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