Overview

Pieter Geyl (1887—1966) was undoubtedly one of the most internationally renowned Dutch historians of the twentieth century, but also one of the most controversial. Having come to the UK as a journalist, he started his academic career at the University of London in the aftermath of World War I (1919) and played an important role in the early days of the Institute of Historical Research. Known in this time for his re-interpretation of the sixteenth-century Dutch Revolt against the Habsburgs, that challenged existing historiographies of both Belgium and the Netherlands but was also linked to his political activism in favour of the Flemish movement in Belgium, Geyl left his stamp on the British perception of Low Countries history before moving back to his country of origin in 1935. Having spent World War II in German hostage camps, he famously coined the adage of history being ‘a discussion without end’ and re-engaged in public debates with British historians after the war, partly conducted on the airwaves of the BBC. A prolific writer and an early example of a ‘public intellectual’, Geyl remains one of the most influential thinkers on history of his time. The present volume re-examines Geyl’s relationship with Britain (and the Anglophone world at large) and sheds new light on his multifaceted work as a historian, journalist, homme de lettres and political activist.

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9781915249005

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The book showcases impressive learning, especially on a micro-historical level; anyone looking to further familiarize themselves with Geyl’s work and life will find this book a helpful guide. This volume is sure to become a central point of reference in future works on Geyl. Of equal importance, this book convincingly displays Geyl’s relevance to the history of historical scholarship. His engagement with numerous academic cultures, his vast output of no fewer than 1049 publications (p. 186), his involvement in the creation of the ‘public historian’ and his proven ability to build networks and institutions are widely discussed. As such, this book succeeds in making Geyl an interesting, multidimensional subject of historical study – one that can shed light on the political and academic developments of the interwar period. And this is a true merit: Geyl’s historical works are commonly cited in a variety of fields, but he is sparsely studied as a historical subject himself. (...) The book illuminates an overlooked part of Geyl’s work but should be of interest not only to those with a pre-established interest in Geyl specifically. Researchers interested in the history and politics of historical knowledge in interwar and post-war Europe will find in this book new facts and materials for the endless debate that is history.

Author Information

Stijn van Rossem is a postdoctoral fellow at the Institute of Historical Research. He is a professor at the School of Arts, Ghent, and the Plantin Institute of Typography in Antwerp. Ulrich Tiedau is a senior lecturer in the Department of Dutch and associate director of the Centre for Digital Humanities at University College London. He is coordinating editor of Dutch Crossing: Journal of Low Countries Studies and co-convenor of the IHR Low Countries History seminars.

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