Edward Hallett Carr
Edward Hallett Carr
=====================
Full Name and Common Aliases
-----------------------------
Edward Hallett Carr was commonly known as E.H. Carr.
Birth and Death Dates
-------------------------
Born: April 22, 1892, London, England
Died: November 21, 1982, Cambridge, England
Nationality and Profession(s)
--------------------------------
Carr was a British Marxist historian, journalist, politician, and best-selling author. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential historians of the 20th century.
Early Life and Background
-----------------------------
Edward Hallett Carr was born in London to an upper-middle-class family. His father, William Charles Edward Carr, was a lawyer, and his mother, Florence Ellen (née Hallett), came from a family of artists and writers. From a young age, Carr showed a keen interest in history and the arts.
Carr attended the prestigious Rugby School before enrolling at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he studied History. During World War I, he served as an officer in the British Army, but was invalided home after contracting trench fever. This experience had a profound impact on his later work, shaping his views on history and politics.
Major Accomplishments
-------------------------
Carr's academic career spanned over five decades. He held various positions at Cambridge University, including Lecturer in History (1929-1936), Reader in History (1936-1957), and Bye-Fellow of Trinity College (1947-1982). His most significant contributions to the field of history include:
The Twenty Years' Crisis (1939): This influential book challenged traditional views on international relations, arguing that states pursue power as a primary goal.
What is History? (1961): In this seminal work, Carr proposed a relativistic approach to history, emphasizing the role of interpretation and perspective in shaping our understanding of the past.
Notable Works or Actions
---------------------------
Carr was an accomplished writer and journalist. Some notable works include:
The Russian Revolution from the Wartime Correspondence (1919-1920): This book series documented his experiences during the Russian Civil War.
A History of Soviet Russia (7 vols., 1958-1978): A comprehensive, award-winning history of the Soviet Union.
Impact and Legacy
----------------------
Carr's contributions to Marxist theory, international relations, and historiography continue to influence contemporary thought. His emphasis on interpretation and perspective has led many historians to reevaluate their approach to the past.
His legacy extends beyond academia:
Influence on Politics: Carr's ideas about power and statecraft informed British foreign policy during World War II.
Interdisciplinary Approach: He bridged the gap between history, politics, and philosophy, inspiring future generations of scholars to adopt a more nuanced understanding of complex issues.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
-----------------------------------------
Edward Hallett Carr is widely quoted for his insights into international relations, historiography, and Marxist theory. His writings continue to resonate with readers seeking a deeper understanding of the complexities that shape our world.
His influence extends beyond academia:
Relevance in Modern Contexts: Carr's ideas about power, statecraft, and interpretation remain relevant in contemporary debates on global politics and international relations.
Cross-Disciplinary Approach: His work embodies an interdisciplinary approach to understanding complex issues, inspiring future generations of scholars to adopt a more nuanced perspective.
Quotes by Edward Hallett Carr
Edward Hallett Carr's insights on:
It used to be said that facts speak for themselves. This is, of course, untrue. The facts speak only when the historian calls on them: it is he who decides to which facts to give the floor, and in what order or context.
The historian, like any other scientist, is an animal who incessantly asks the question: Why?
What is history?, our answer, consciously or unconsciously, reflects our own position in time, and forms part of our answer to the broader question, what view we take of the society in which we live.
Progress in human affairs, whether in science or in history or in society, has come mainly through the bold readiness of human beings not to confine themselves to seeking piecemeal improvements in the way things are done, but to present fundamental challenges in the name of reason to the current way of doing things and to the avowed or hidden assumptions on which it rests.
Good historians, I suspect, whether they think about it or not, have the future in their bones. Besides the question: Why? the historian also asks the question: Whither?
History is preoccupied with fundamental processes of change. If you are allergic to these processes, you abandon history and take cover in the social sciences. Today anthropology, sociology, etc, flourish. History is sick. But then our society too is sick.
It is significant that the nationalization of thought has proceded everywhere pari passu with the nationalization of industry.
What distinguishes the historian from the collector of historical facts is generalization.
I am reminded of Housman’s remark that ‘accuracy is a duty, not a virtue.’ To praise a historian for his accuracy is like praising an architect for using well-seasoned timber or properly mixed concrete in his building. It is a necessary condition of his work, but not his essential function.