A Sober Desire For History: William Gilmore Simms As Historian

ISBN: 1570035652

Author: Busick, Sean R.

Condition: New

While Simms is regarded as one of the South's foremost men of letters, many scholars assume his primary gifts were in poetry, editing and fiction writing, Busick (history, Kentucky Wesleyan College) maintains Simms was actually an historian. Busick examines Simms's contributions as a skilled and discerning archivist, an advocate of accessible and clear historical writing, and as a promoter of "democratic" history writing that took individuals into account as well as far-ranging trends. He paid attention to the history of groups normally ignored at the time, such as women, and he also generously supported historical scholarship and scholars. Busick also notes that Simms also had some startlingly modern ideas about the relationship between history and fiction and the role of the biographer. Annotation 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)