the fiction of narrative essays on history literature and theory

The Fiction of Narrative: Essays on History, Literature, and Theory, 1957—2007

Hayden White is celebrated as one of the great minds in the humanities. Since the publication of his groundbreaking monograph, Metahistory, in 1973, White's work has been crucial to disciplines where narrative is of primary concern, including history, literary studies, anthropology, philosophy, art history, and film and media studies. This volume, deftly introduced by Robert Doran, gathers in one place White's important -- and often hard-to-find -- essays exploring his revolutionary theories of historical writing and narrative. These texts find White at his most essayistic, engaging a wide range of topics and thinkers with characteristic insight and elegance. The Fiction of Narrative traces the arc and evolution of White's field-defining thought and will become standard reading for students and scholars of historiography, the theory of history, and literary studies. Praise for Hayden White "No other historian appears to be at the frontier of so many developments or so skillful at integrating them into traditional American scholarship in the history of ideas." -- Journal of Modern History "White is a master of critical and provocative thought." -- H-Net Reviews "White has arguably changed the course of historiography in the past twenty years... Any serious historian will need to engage the issues and answers that White raises." -- Religious Studies Review "White lays out his arguments with a clarity and rigor that few can match." -- Choice

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In This Article Expand or collapse the "in this article" section Hayden White

Introduction, overviews, introductions, and special issues.

• Influences, Reception, Interlocutors, and (Missed) Encounters
• Academia, (Anti-)Disciplinarity, and the Historical Profession
• History, Historiography, and Metahistory
• Rhetoric and Tropology
• Fiction, Emplotment, Narrativity, and Narratology
• Formalism, Figuralism, the Figure-Fulfillment Model, and the Modernist Event
• Modernism, Postmodernism, Constructivism, Deconstruction, and the Linguistic Turn
• The Holocaust, Traumatic History, and Witness Literature
• Ethics, Politics, Existentialism, and the Practical Past

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Hayden White by Karyn Ball , Ewa Domańska LAST REVIEWED: 30 October 2019 LAST MODIFIED: 30 October 2019 DOI: 10.1093/obo/9780190221911-0084

Hayden White (b. 12 July 1928–d. 5 March 2018) was a groundbreaking critic of conventional historiography whose emphasis on the moral, rhetorical, aesthetic, and fictive valences of narrative as a mode of figuration unsettled professional historians’ tendency to disavow the role of the imagination and form in the selective arrangement of evidence. Despite Metahistory ’s manifest affinity with structuralist approaches, White’s 1973 monograph is widely viewed as having inaugurated a “postmodernist” critique of narrative historiography that resonated with the growing influence of a postwar, anti-positivist “linguistic turn” stressing the figural dynamics of texts as objects of discourse. In grasping the implications of referential fragility, White articulated a quintessentially Nietzschean antipathy toward naively mimetic notions of “truth” that govern history treated as an objective mirror rather than as an imaginative construction of the past. In consonance with Roland Barthes, White recognized that narrative historiography shared stylistic ground with realist fiction in adhering to poetic conventions that shore up the “referential illusion,” or the reader’s feeling that descriptive writing bears an intimate relationship with a sometimes arbitrary and disordered reality. Insisting upon historical narrative’s status as a verbal structure, White additionally demonstrated that history’s figural operations are irreducible to a rigorously logical methodology and “science” as such insofar as history’s form reflects choices that cannot be evaluated on epistemological grounds. For this reason, while traditional historians continue to disavow the import of White’s interventions, scholarship in the humanities and social sciences attests to his abiding influence beyond the critique of historiography. Before the appearance in 1973 of the textbook The Greco-Roman Tradition and his monograph Metahistory: The Historical Imagination in Nineteenth-Century Europe , White translated Carlo Antoni’s From History to Sociology: The Transition in German Historical Thinking from Italian (with a foreword by Benedetto Croce) (1959); co-authored two textbooks respectively entitled The Emergence of Liberal Humanism: An Intellectual History of Western Europe , Vol. 1: From the Italian Renaissance to the French Revolution (1966) with Willson H. Coates and J. Salwyn Schapiro; and, again with Coates, The Ordeal of Liberal Humanism: An Intellectual History of Western Europe , Vol. 2: Since the French Revolution (1970). White also edited The Uses of History: Essays in Intellectual and Social History (1968) and co-edited Giambattista Vico: An International Symposium with Giorgio Tagliacozzo (1969). With his wife, Professor Margaret Brose, White co-edited Representing Kenneth Burke in 1982, but following Metahistory , he primarily published essays, some of which reappeared in four collections: Tropics of Discourse: Essays in Cultural Criticism (1978); The Content of the Form: Narrative Discourse and Historical Representation (1987); Figural Realism: Studies in the Mimesis Effect (1999); and The Practical Past (2014). The Fiction of Narrative: Essays on History, Literature, and Theory 1957–2007 , an anthology of White’s essays, co-edited and introduced by Robert Doran, appeared in 2010.

To date, Paul 2011 offers the only monograph in English overviewing White’s work as a whole. Korhonen 2006 features commentaries on White’s textual approach to historical writing, and his debunking of the disciplinary standpoint that treats the presentation of historical referents as “scientific” and, therefore, as fundamentally more authoritative than writing that depicts fictional referents. Ankersmit, et al. 2009 includes essays that reflect on the philosophical dimensions of White’s preoccupations and his role as both a historian and a cultural critic. Nuanced interpretations of White’s conceptions of emplotment, figuralism, and tropology appear in Doran 2013 . Doran has also contributed a substantive introduction to Doran 2010 , an anthology of White’s previously published essays that did not reappear in Tropics of Discourse , The Content of the Form , or Figural Realism . The articles included in special issues edited by Vann ( Vann 1998 ), Munslow ( Munslow 2008 ), Tozzi ( Tozzi 2013 ), and Neves ( Neves 2018 ) explore various directions and motifs in White’s thought.

Ankersmit, Frank, Ewa Domańska, and Hans Kellner, eds. Re-figuring Hayden White . Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2009.

Published in honor of White’s eightieth birthday, this volume introduced by Hans Kellner includes contributions by Frank Ankersmit, Andrew Baird, Stephen Bann, Judith Butler, David Carr, Ewa Domańska, David Harlan, Keith Jenkins, Dominick LaCapra, Allan Megill, Nancy Partner, Herman Paul, Verónica Tozzi, and Richard Vann. The volume also features an extensive bibliography compiled by Ewa Domańska of works by and about Hayden White.

Doran, Robert. “Editor’s Introduction: Humanism, Formalism, and the Discourse of History.” In The Fiction of Narrative: Essays on History, Literature, and Theory 1957–2007 . By Hayden White. Edited by Robert Doran, xiii–xxxiv. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2010.

A well-researched and discerning introduction that offers a comprehensive summary of the development of White’s intellectual preoccupations, critical tendencies, and signature interventions, with particular attention devoted to his conceptualizations of metahistory, tropology, emplotment, and figuralism.

Doran, Robert, ed. Philosophy of History after Hayden White . New York: Bloomsbury, 2013.

An international group of eminent scholars (F. R. Ankersmit, Mieke Bal, Karyn Ball, Arthur C. Danto, Harry Harootunian, Hans Kellner, Gabrielle M. Spiegel, Richard T. Vann, and Gianni Vattimo) explores White’s ideas in the context of academic historiography, analytic philosophy of history, contemporary art, Heideggerian hermeneutics, Kant’s philosophy, and Marxist cultural theory.

Kleinberg, Ethan. “Hayden White: In Memoriam.” The Historian 80.4 (Winter 2018): 691–704.

DOI: 10.1111/hisn.12998

This memorial piece provides an elegant and thoughtful overview of Hayden White’s oeuvre. The author reflects on White’s legacy and argues for the abiding relevance of “The Burden of History” and Metahistory in particular. Kleinberg also stresses the importance of White’s arguments for debates about representing the Holocaust.

Korhonen, Kuisma, ed. Tropes for the Past: Hayden White and the History/Literature Debate . Amsterdam and New York: Rodopi, 2006.

A substantive and nuanced introduction to the debate on the problem of narrativity, and White’s role in rethinking the relation between history and literature. Stanley Corkin and Phyllis Frus, Herman Paul, and Kalle Pihlainen have contributed critical readings of his work.

Munslow, Alun, ed. Special Issue . Rethinking History 12.1 (2008).

This special issue honoring White’s 80th birthday commences with Alun Munslow’s “Editorial Note,” and follows with a conversation between Ewa Domańska and White as well as contributions by Kalle Pihlainen, Oliver Daddow, Keith Jenkins, Herman Paul, and Patrick Finney.

Neves, José, ed. Special Issue: The History of Hayden White . Práticas de História: A Journal on Theory, Historiography, and Uses of the Past 6 (2018).

This fresh collection features shorter essays by members of an international group of scholars, each focusing on one of White’s articles. Beginning with Neves’s introduction, the issue includes contributions by Herman Paul, Fábio Franzini, Maria-Benedita Basto, Rui Bebiano, Edoardo Tortarolo, Paul-Arthur Tortosa, Luís Trindade, Nancy Partner, Ewa Domańska, João Luis Lisboa, Philippe Carrard, Gabrielle M. Spiegel, and Airo Bolaños de Miguel.

Paul, Herman. Hayden White: The Historical Imagination . Key Contemporary Thinkers Series. Malden, MA: Polity, 2011.

A superbly balanced and carefully researched introduction to White’s intellectual trajectory and thought, Paul’s book is a must-read for anyone interested in White’s background, principal influences, and the shifting development of his pivotal concepts as well as their place in the history of ideas.

Tozzi, Verónica, ed. Special Issue: Hayden White: Narrative Figuralism and Epistemic Responsibility in Historical Controversies .” Metatheoria: Revista de Filosofía e Historia de la Ciencia/Journal of Philosophy and History of Science/Revista de Filosofia e História de Ciência 4.1 (2013).

This special issue includes contributions by a younger generation of commentators on the philosophy of history as represented by Verónica Tozzi, Nicolás Lavagnino, María Inés La Greca, María Martini and Natalia Taccetta, and Kalle Pihlainen. Inspired by White’s work, the issue reflects each contributor’s perspective on the ethical and political dimensions of his theory.

Vann, Richard T., ed. Special Issue: Hayden White: Twenty-five Years On.” History and Theory 37.2 (May 1998).

A frequently cited special issue that includes superb contributions by Richard T. Vann on White’s reception, Frank Ankersmit and Nancy Partner on historians’ criticism of White’s theory, and Ewa Domańska on his sources of inspiration, secular humanism, and the rebellious nature of his intellectual endeavor.

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The Fiction of Narrative: Essays on History, Literature, and Theory, 1957-2007

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Hayden White is celebrated as one of the great minds in the humanities. Since the publication of his groundbreaking monograph, Metahistory , in 1973, White's work has been crucial to disciplines where narrative is of primary concern, including history, literary studies, anthropology, philosophy, art history, and film and media studies.

This volume, deftly introduced by Robert Doran, gathers in one place White's important--and often... Read Full Overview

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• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Johns Hopkins University Press (28 May 2010)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0801894808
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0801894800
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 612 g
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.24 x 2.44 x 22.86 cm
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ India

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Robert Doran

Robert Doran is Professor of French and Comparative Literature at the University of Rochester and an Affiliate Faculty member in the Music Theory Department at the Eastman School of Music. He is the author of _The Theory of the Sublime from Longinus to Kant_ (Cambridge University Press, 2015/2017; Spanish translation, _La teoría de lo sublime: De Longino a Kant_, 2021) and _The Ethics of Theory: Philosophy, History, Literature_ (Bloomsbury, 2017), and is the editor of six books: _The Ethics of Narrative, Vol. 2 (2023)_, by Hayden White, _The Ethics of Narrative, Vol. 1 (2022), by Hayden White, _Liszt and Virtuosity_ (2020), _Philosophy of History After Hayden White_ (2013), _The Fiction of Narrative_ (2010), by Hayden White, and _Mimesis and Theory_ (2008), by René Girard.

Professor Doran holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University in Comparative Literature and a Ph.D. in General and Comparative Literature from the Sorbonne Nouvelle-Paris III. Before joining the faculty at the University of Rochester, he taught for three years at Middlebury College as Visiting Assistant Professor of French.

Interview with Rhys Tranter about _The Ethics of Theory_:

https://rhystranter.com/2017/05/05/robert-doran-ethics-of-theory/

Interview with Cambridge University Press about _The Theory of the Sublime from Longinus to Kant_:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSu5hYwxjGo

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Paul A. Roth on The Fiction of Narrative: Essays on History, Literature, and Theory 1957–2007. By Hayden White. Edited with an introduction by Robert Doran. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2010. Pp. 382  [Book Review]

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The Fiction of Narrative: Essays on History, Literature, and Theory, 1957–2007

Hayden White is celebrated as one of the great minds in the humanities. Since the publication of his groundbreaking monograph, Metahistory , in 1973, White’s work has been crucial to disciplines where narrative is of primary concern, including history, literary studies, anthropology, philosophy, art history, and film and media studies.

This volume, deftly introduced by Robert Doran, gathers in one place White’s important―and often hard-to-find―essays exploring his revolutionary theories of historical writing and narrative. These texts find White at his most essayistic, engaging a wide range of topics and thinkers with characteristic insight and elegance.

The Fiction of Narrative traces the arc and evolution of White’s field-defining thought and will become standard reading for students and scholars of historiography, the theory of history, and literary studies.

• ISBN-10 0801894808
• ISBN-13 978-0801894800
• Publisher Johns Hopkins University Press
• Publication date June 1, 2010
• Language English
• Dimensions 6 x 0.99 x 9 inches
• Print length 424 pages
• See all details

Editorial Reviews

Hayden White’s theoretical prominence in the areas of historiography, tropology, and narratology is well known and deservedly influential. We know him less well as a lively and astute analyst of specific texts. This collection―which ranges from historians to philosophers, from literary history to cultural analysis―is a splendid resource and a pleasure to read.

About the Author

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• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00A2Q165U
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Johns Hopkins University Press (June 1, 2010)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 424 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0801894808
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0801894800
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.3 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.99 x 9 inches

About the authors

Hayden v. white.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Robert Doran

Robert Doran is Professor of French and Comparative Literature at the University of Rochester and an Affiliate Faculty member in the Music Theory Department at the Eastman School of Music. He is the author of _The Theory of the Sublime from Longinus to Kant_ (Cambridge University Press, 2015/2017; Spanish translation, _La teoría de lo sublime: De Longino a Kant_, 2021) and _The Ethics of Theory: Philosophy, History, Literature_ (Bloomsbury, 2017), and is the editor of six books: _The Ethics of Narrative, Vol. 2 (2023)_, by Hayden White, _The Ethics of Narrative, Vol. 1 (2022), by Hayden White, _Liszt and Virtuosity_ (2020), _Philosophy of History After Hayden White_ (2013), _The Fiction of Narrative_ (2010), by Hayden White, and _Mimesis and Theory_ (2008), by René Girard.

Professor Doran holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University in Comparative Literature and a Ph.D. in General and Comparative Literature from the Sorbonne Nouvelle-Paris III. Before joining the faculty at the University of Rochester, he taught for three years at Middlebury College as Visiting Assistant Professor of French.

Interview with Rhys Tranter about _The Ethics of Theory_:

https://rhystranter.com/2017/05/05/robert-doran-ethics-of-theory/

Interview with Cambridge University Press about _The Theory of the Sublime from Longinus to Kant_:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSu5hYwxjGo

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Historical fiction: 5 books that bring history to life

Discover five captivating historical fiction books that bring history to life, blending real events with compelling narratives for an enjoyable read..

Monday August 26, 2024 , 4 min Read

Historical fiction is a unique genre that bridges the gap between the past and the present, offering readers a way to explore different eras through engaging narratives. These books combine rich historical detail with captivating plots and characters, making history come alive in ways that textbooks simply can't. Whether you’re a history buff or just someone who enjoys a good story, these five historical fiction books are sure to make history fun to read.

1. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Set in France during World War II, The Nightingale tells the story of two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, who are caught in the turmoil of Nazi occupation. The novel explores themes of courage, survival, and sacrifice as each sister takes a different path in resisting the oppressors. Vianne’s quiet determination to protect her family contrasts with Isabelle’s bold involvement in the French Resistance. Kristin Hannah’s detailed portrayal of wartime France and the emotional depth of the characters make this book a powerful read that highlights the resilience of women during one of history’s darkest periods.

The Nightingale immerses readers in the intense atmosphere of occupied France, balancing the tension of war with the personal stories of its characters. The blend of historical events with a compelling narrative makes it a page-turner.

2. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Narrated by Death, The Book Thief is set in Nazi Germany and follows the life of Liesel Meminger, a young girl who finds solace in stealing books and sharing them with others during the horrors of World War II. The story explores the power of words and literature in the face of oppression and brutality. Through Liesel’s eyes, readers witness the devastating impact of war on ordinary people, while also experiencing moments of humanity and hope.

The Book Thief offers a fresh perspective on a well-known period in history, with a unique narrative style that adds an element of dark humour and intrigue. The novel’s focus on the importance of books and storytelling is particularly engaging for readers who love literature.

3. The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

This novel takes readers back to the court of King Henry VIII, focusing on the lives of Anne Boleyn and her lesser-known sister, Mary. Told from Mary’s perspective, The Other Boleyn Girl delves into the intrigue, ambition, and betrayal that characterised the Tudor court. The novel portrays the intense rivalry between the sisters as they vie for the king’s favour, with life-changing consequences. Philippa Gregory’s vivid depiction of the politics and personalities of the time offers an absorbing look at one of the most famous dynasties in English history.

The Other Boleyn Girl combines historical drama with the scandalous intrigue of the Tudor court, making it both educational and entertaining. The richly detailed setting and complex characters make for a fascinating read.

4. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel is set during World War II and tells the intertwined stories of Marie-Laure, a blind French girl, and Werner, a German soldier. As the war ravages Europe, their lives converge in the occupied city of Saint-Malo. Doerr’s lyrical prose and meticulous attention to historical detail create a vivid picture of the era, while the dual narrative structure adds depth to the story. The novel explores themes of survival, resilience, and the impact of war on individuals from different sides of the conflict.

All the Light We Cannot See blends historical facts with beautifully crafted fiction, offering readers an immersive experience of wartime Europe. The alternating perspectives of the protagonists keep the narrative dynamic and engaging.

5. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

The Pillars of the Earth transports readers to 12th-century England, where the construction of a cathedral in the fictional town of Kingsbridge becomes the focal point of the story. The novel spans several decades and follows the lives of a diverse cast of characters, including builders, clergy, and nobles, as they navigate love, ambition, and conflict. Ken Follett’s detailed research and storytelling prowess bring the medieval period to life, offering insights into the social, political, and religious dynamics of the time.

The Pillars of the Earth is an epic tale that combines historical accuracy with a gripping plot. The novel’s sweeping scope and richly drawn characters make it a compelling read for anyone interested in medieval history.

Historical fiction offers a window into the past, allowing readers to explore different eras and events through the lens of compelling stories. These five books not only provide a fascinating glimpse into history but also make it enjoyable and accessible. Whether you’re interested in wartime dramas, royal intrigue, or medieval epics, these novels will make history come alive in the most engaging way possible.

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