History and Myth in Romanian Consciousness

Lucian Boia

Published by Central European University Press 2001

History and Myth in Romanian Consciousness

Lucian Boia

https://doi.org/10.1515/9789633860045

Overview
Contents

About this book

There is a considerable difference between real history and discourse history - this book stems from this idea. The author points out that history is constantly reconstructed, adapted and sometimes mythified from the perspective of the present day, of present states of mind and ideologies. Boia closely examines the process of historical culture and conscience in nineteenth and twentieth century Romania, particularly concentrating on the impact of the national ideology on history. Based upon his findings, the author identifies several key mythical configurations and analyses the manner in which Romanians have reconstituted their own highly ideologized history over the last two centuries.

The strength of History and Myth in Romanian Consciousness lies in the author's ability to fully deconstruct the entire Romanian historiographic system and demonstrate the increasing acuteness of national problems in general, and in particular the exploitation of history to support national ideology.

Author / Editor information

Boia Lucian :

Lucian Boia is Professor of History at the University of Bucharest,

Reviews

"...a happy event for those teaching Romanian history in English... Boia writes with verve and the translation reads well on the whole, making this study of the axes ground by Romanian historians in the last centuries not only informative, but fun to read."

"History and Myth represents one of the most sophisticated archeologies in Romanian historiography, past and present. With the insight of both the native and the scholar, Romanian historian Lucian Boia nuancedly presents and - without "demythologizing," as the author himself declares - deconstructs the Romanian "imaginary" as a matter of myths expressed in public and private, formal and informal discursive spaces. The two Introductions to the first and second Romanian editions that preface this volume are extremely valuable since they (re)iterate the topic of the book - "history as discourse" - and (re)contextualize some newer myths of the late 1990s, which captured the public eye after the first edition was issued. ... History and Myth offers a challenging perspective, a clearly translated narrative, and an indispensable analytical tool for scholars of Romania and of Eastern European history and politics."

"Boia's work has had a huge impact on Romanian public opinion, and has triggered a serious rethinking of the links between the nation, the nation-state, national identity, history, and politics. On a more theoretical level, his work is pioneering the integration of contemporary Western scholarship on nationalism, deconstructivism, postmodern history into the Romanian historigraphic discourse."

"It is an extraordinarily interesting and provocative work, one that, not surprisingly, provoked a huge firestorm. As the author wryly notes, while contemporary Romanians have no problem with castigating the presidents of post-1989 Romania, most shy away from criticizing medieval Romanian princes and other historical heroes. ... excellent translation..."

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	v
Three Years on: an Introduction to the Second Romanian Edition Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
Introduction to the First Edition Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	27
CHAPTER ONE History, Ideology, Mythology Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	31
CHAPTER TWO Origins Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	83
CHAPTER THREE Continuity Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	113
CHAPTER FOUR Unity Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	129
CHAPTER FIVE The Romanians and the Others Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	153
CHAPTER SIX The Ideal Prince Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	189
CHAPTER SEVEN After 1989 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	227
Conclusion Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	239
Notes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	241
Selected Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	259
Glossary Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	263
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	279

Language: English
Publisher: Central European University Press
Audience: Professional and scholarly;
Pages
- Main content: 294
Keywords: 19th century; 20th century; Historiography; Ideology; Memory politics; Nationalism; Romania

eBook

Published: January 1, 2001
ISBN: 9789633860045