Hermeneutics, History and Memory

This book's central concern is the problem of interpretation, both as meaning and as practice, in undertaking and utilizing source-based research. Challenging the view that some traditional narrative historians hold that theory or methodology are not central to their work, this book explores the vital relationship that exists within research between interpretation and truth. With examples drawn from a wide range of academic disciplines, the book will appeal both to experienced historical researchers who seek more explicit theoretical and methodological foundations for their empirical investigations, and to research students in history and the social sciences concerned with understanding the principles and practices through which documentary analysis and interview can be both conducted and utilized.

Philip Gardner is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Education at the University of Cambridge, UK.