In France, history is central to cultural life. The discourse on the past is a vital component of the discourse on society and politics in general. This reflects the impact of the Revolution and its still unresolved consequences. The ensuing French preference for historical modes of explanation needs to be viewed within a broader perspective: specifically, set within a tradition of historical writing which developed in the first half of the 19th century. That is what this book does. The Romantic period saw the promotion of history as a grand discourse of legitimation. The French Revolution...