Peter Novick Boeken

Focusing on the evolution of historical objectivity, this book explores the aspirations and challenges faced by American historians since the late nineteenth century. Peter Novick delves into unpublished correspondence and published works, providing a nuanced perspective on how historians have defined their roles and the principles guiding their practice. The narrative reveals the interplay between theoretical ideals and practical realities, offering a comprehensive account of the profession's development and the ongoing debate surrounding the writing of history.

How and when did the Holocaust come to loom so large in postwar Jewish and American and international life? This is the question that this book sets out to answer. It asks whether defining Jewishness in terms of victimhood alone does not hand Hitler a posthumous victory, and whether claiming uniqueness for the Holocaust does not render other atrocities (Biafra, Rwanda, Kosovo) not so bad.