The language of character and the nature of events in the historical narratives of William Robertson
This thesis explores the relationship between theoretical and narrative history in the works of the eighteenth century historian William Robertson. It argues that the excessive concentration upon Robertson as an exponent of 4-stage theory has obscured the essential interconnection that exists between theory and narrative in his histories. Robertson was a predominantly narrative historian, whose central interest lay in depicting public events and in illuminating individual characters as political actors. However, Robertson was sensitive to the sceptical and 'philosopher' critiques of conventional political narrative as lacking meaning, interest or a secure means of validating itself. He attempted therefore to use the theoretical resources available to him to restore meaning to public narrative, and especially to provide new contexts for the study of character and motivation. The project of the 'history of the human mind' was applied by Robertson to the revelation of political motives and action, and in the introductions to his histories he showed that not only political motivation but the nature of events themselves were subject to progressive change and refinement as society and knowledge expanded. Thus, narratives
Hargraves, Neil K.
The language of character and the nature of events in the historical narratives of William Robertson. This thesis explores the relationship between theoretical and narrative history in the works of the eighteenth century historian William Robertson. It argues that the excessive concentration upon Robertson as an exponent of 4-stage theory has obscured the essential interconnection that exists between theory and narrative in his histories. Robertson was a predominantly narrative historian, whose central interest lay in depicting public events and in illuminating individual characters as political actors. However, Robertson was sensitive to the sceptical and 'philosopher' critiques of conventional political narrative as lacking meaning, interest or a secure means of validating itself. He attempted therefore to use the theoretical resources available to him to restore meaning to public narrative, and especially to provide new contexts for the study of character and motivation. The project of the 'history of the human mind' was applied by Robertson to the revelation of political motives and action, and in the introductions to his histories he showed that not only political motivation but the nature of events themselves were subject to progressive change and refinement as society and knowledge expanded. Thus, narratives
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