The Importance of History
History Today welcomes its seventh Editor to the magazine.
The last few months have served to remind us, once again, of the importance of history. Just as the attacks of 9/11 deprived the West of the comforting illusion of the End of History, so the credit crunch reminds us all, painfully, that the economic cycle remains untamed. History has a way of tripping us up with its harsh realities, especially societies prone, like ours, to bouts of serial amnesia. Even historians succumb: was it not Dr Gordon Brown, chronicler of Red Clydeside, who proclaimed the end of ‘boom and bust’? Surely, it is significant that Brown, George W. Bush and now Barack Obama, facing a once-in-a-century crisis, have all sought the advice of professional historians. History is a serious subject for serious times.
To continue reading this article you need to purchase a subscription, available from only £5.
Start my trial subscription now
If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in.
Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems.
