Are historians story-tellers? Is it possible to tell true stories about the past? These are just a couple of the questions raised in this comprehensive collection of texts about philosophy, theory and methodology of writing history. Drawing together seminal texts from philosophers and historians, this volume presents the great debate over the narrative character of history from the 1960s onwards. The History and Narrative Reader combines theory with practice to offer a unique overview of this debate and illuminates the practical implications of these philosophical debates for the writing of history. The editor's introduction offers a succinct survey of the subject to support the readings, which explore the role of narrative in: Historical understanding Human action Linguistics and structure The practice of history Including the work of F R Ankersmit, David Carr, Hayden White, W H Dray and Frederick Olafson, The History and Narrative Reader is a practical and philosophical guide to the history and narrative debate. With a detailed bibliography and a glossary of key concepts, this collection will prove an invaluable resource for students of historical theory and m