Containing some 3,000 quotations by 1,000 writers from different cultures, times, and perspectives, this book will fascinate readers who enjoy reflecting on history. "Choice"

This unusual work examines the literature of history and its attempts to define the meaning of history. Approximately three thousand quotations by about 1,000 prominent philosophers, writers, and historians offer diverse interpretations of the significance of historical study, ranging from history viewed as bunk to history elevated to lyric poetry.

The entries, arranged alphabetically by author, represent a...