Style in History

This masterful examination of the style of 4 classic historians – Gibbon, Ranke, Macaulay, and Burckhardt – shows how style was not just a matter of form for these historians but an expression of who they were and the world in which they lived. At the same time, as Gay emphasizes, style was also a tool these historians used to illuminate their subject, making it much more than simply a reflection of their time. Beautifully written, the book demonstrates that Gay was as much a master of style as the historians he discusses.

One of my favorite books whose author, a teacher of mine, wrote it in his second language, this one’s an example of its main point—that rather than a fashion worn for display, style is a quality that emerges from a person’s very being. With the zesty spirit that was the man himself, Gay wields this truth to bring to life the great works of four now little-read historians: Edward Gibbon on the Roman Empire, Jacob Burckhardt on the Italian Renaissance, Leopold von Ranke on early modern Europe, and Thomas Babington Macauley on 17th-century England.  Under Gay’s, yes, stylish… show more.