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Introduction

Introduction <jats:sec><jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>History, writes Malcolm Bradbury, the British novelist and critic, “is the lies the present tells in order to make sense of the past.” While exaggerated, there is little doubt that the present is constantly seeking to relate itself to the past—or to a past that it creates. It will be just as plausible, however, to assert that history is the lies the past tells in order to make sense of the present. As we try to understand contemporary issues, we often go back to the past and try to find events, themes, roots, lessons, and the like that may have some relevance to the present. The task of a historian is to carry out such an enterprise as openly and dispassionately as possible so as not to let the past tell “lies.”</jats:p> </jats:sec> http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of American-East Asian Relations Brill

Introduction

Iriye, Akira
Journal of American-East Asian Relations , Volume 9 (1-2): 1 – Jan 1, 2000
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Publisher
Brill
Copyright
© 2000 Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands
ISSN
1058-3947
eISSN
1876-5610
DOI
10.1163/187656100793645985
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

<jats:sec><jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>History, writes Malcolm Bradbury, the British novelist and critic, “is the lies the present tells in order to make sense of the past.” While exaggerated, there is little doubt that the present is constantly seeking to relate itself to the past—or to a past that it creates. It will be just as plausible, however, to assert that history is the lies the past tells in order to make sense of the present. As we try to understand contemporary issues, we often go back to the past and try to find events, themes, roots, lessons, and the like that may have some relevance to the present. The task of a historian is to carry out such an enterprise as openly and dispassionately as possible so as not to let the past tell “lies.”</jats:p> </jats:sec>

Journal

Journal of American-East Asian Relations – Brill

Published: Jan 1, 2000

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