Evans vs Marwick — Which Historiography Textbook?
Quick Answer: Evans’ In Defence of History is the more engaging read — a brilliant, polemical defence of historical methodology against postmodernist challenge. Marwick’s The New Nature of History is more systematic and comprehensive. Most UK history students find both useful — Evans for the postmodernist debate; Marwick as a systematic reference for historical method.
Evans is more readable and intellectually stimulating — buy this first if you are new to historiography. Marwick is more systematic — excellent for essays on historical method. Both are cheap (£10–20 new) and both appear regularly on UK history reading lists.
📋 In This Guide
Evans — In Defence of History
| Author: | Richard J. Evans |
| Edition: | Updated edition |
| Publisher: | Granta Books |
| ISBN: | 9781783784592 |
| Price: | ~£10–12 |
| Best for: | First encounter with historiography; postmodernism debate |
In Defence of History by Richard Evans (formerly Regius Professor, Cambridge) was first published in 1997 and remains one of the most important and readable books about the nature of historical knowledge. Evans wrote it to defend traditional historical methodology against postmodernist historians — particularly Hayden White and Keith Jenkins — who argued that historical narratives are fundamentally subjective constructions. Evans accepts postmodernist insights about the constructed nature of historical narrative but argues that evidence, professional conventions, and peer review do produce genuine historical knowledge.
Why it’s so readable: Evans writes with polemical energy, making historiography feel genuinely urgent rather than abstract. One of the few books about historical method that non-specialists actually enjoy.
Updated edition (Granta, ISBN 9781783784592): New preface addressing developments since 1997, including historical denialism as a contemporary example of why defending historical truth matters.
Marwick — The New Nature of History
| Author: | Arthur Marwick |
| Edition: | 2001 (fully rewritten) |
| Publisher: | Palgrave Macmillan |
| ISBN: | 9780333964477 |
| Price: | ~£15–20 |
| Best for: | Systematic reference for historical method; methodology essays |
The New Nature of History is a fully rewritten version of Marwick’s classic (originally 1970), updated to engage with postmodernist criticism. More systematic and encyclopaedic than Evans — it covers what history is, the nature of historical evidence (primary and secondary sources, hierarchy), how historians analyse sources, how arguments are structured, and his famous ‘nine great landmarks’ of professional historical practice. Less polemical than Evans but more useful as a reference for specific method questions.
Head-to-Head
| Feature | Evans | Marwick |
|---|---|---|
| Style | Polemical, engaging, readable | Systematic, comprehensive, measured |
| Primary focus | Defending history against postmodernism | What history is and how it is practised |
| Best for | First encounter with historiography | Reference for method essays |
| Price (new) | ~£10–12 | ~£15–20 |
| Read cover to cover? | Yes — compulsive reading | Selectively — use as reference |
| Textbook | Waterstones | Amazon | AbeBooks | Blackwells | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In Defence of History – Evans | Check → | £12.99 £9.99 | Check → | Check → | Check → |
| The New Nature of History – Marwick | Check → | £120.00 £100.12 | Check → | Check → | Check → |
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How Evans & Marwick Fit Alongside Carr & Elton
The four major historiography texts cover the full range of the debate about historical knowledge:
- Carr — the classic relativist position
- Elton — the classic empiricist reply
- Marwick — systematic account of professional historical practice
- Evans — defence against the postmodernist challenge
See: Carr vs Elton — Which Historiography Textbook?
Our Verdict
⚖ The Verdict
Buy Evans first (ISBN 9781783784592) if you are new to historiography. More engaging, more polemical, the better cover-to-cover read. At £10–12, extremely affordable.
Add Marwick (ISBN 9780333964477) for essays on historical method — his systematic account and ‘nine landmarks’ are excellent reference material.
Both with Carr & Elton give you the complete picture of the major UK historiography debates.
💰 Save Money
Both books are inexpensive — Evans £10–12 new, Marwick £15–20. Used copies available on AbeBooks from £3–5. At these prices, there is little reason not to buy both.
Is Evans or Marwick better for UK history students?
Evans is the more engaging first read — buy this first if new to historiography. Marwick is more systematic and useful as a reference for methodology essays. Most UK history students find both useful at different stages.
What is Evans In Defence of History about?
Evans defends traditional historical methodology against postmodernist critics who argue historical narratives are fundamentally subjective. He argues that while historians bring their perspectives, the craft of historical research — evidence, testing arguments, professional conventions — does produce genuine historical knowledge.
What is Marwick’s The New Nature of History about?
A comprehensive guide to what history is, how it is practised, and what makes good historical writing. Covers the nature of historical evidence, how historians analyse primary sources, the structure of historical arguments, and engagement with postmodernist critiques.
How do Evans and Marwick fit with Carr and Elton?
Together, Carr, Elton, Evans, and Marwick cover the full range of major historiography debates — from the classic relativism vs empiricism debate (Carr vs Elton) to the postmodernist challenge and its defenders. Most UK history degrees assign at least two of these four texts.
Last Updated: August 2026 | Author: Textbooks.co.uk Editorial Team
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