Dead Certainties: Unwarranted Speculations

Schama is never to be faulted for his authentic and flawless eye on history but as a long-time editor, I have to say that this book, even though admittedly discontinuous by the author, doesn't quite work in terms of the story line. I would have liked to have seen a much stronger connection between Wolfe and Parkman, between the Brahmins of the times of both stories and the present. Nonetheless, the accounting of George Weber's trail is riveting and casts a long shadow onto the legal shenanigans of our own time. Schama always delivers the goods but not necessarily in the way we might like. If Schama is to be forgiven for frustrating our expectations in this work, it is perhaps because it was one of his early efforts.

The seller shipped this item very quickly and the quality was even better than described

Required text for one of my seminars. Fascinating read that contrasts a couple of events in North American history that have a slightly unexpected connection. The second portion is much longer, and I like the way that Schama organized the material somewhat like a whodunit, so that the reader only gets facets of information as the story progresses in a way that is intriguing and engaging. The title is interesting as it refers to the way that history can be distorted for a number of reasons, and yet it's easy to be so very certain about the "truth" of a particular event.

The premise of the book, taking us from the death of General Wolfe to the trial of Dr. Webster, is tenuous. At times I forgot exactly what the first two chapters had to do with the rest of the account.That said, each of the three "parts" of Schama's story could stand on its own. His style is quick and compelling. It was hard to put down once I started. A much better "beach read" than some of the throw away stuff that usually gets taken on vacations.

Typical Schman quality. A good read with great character development.

Condition is 5 star. Great

A few years ago, I became a professional social scientist. As such, I became tangled in the beginning...what is truth? I never figured it out, but I had to go to work and earn a living so I took up the viewpoint that seemed most reasonable --material empiricism -- and began documenting my version of truth and getting it published.In DEAD CERTAINTIES (UNWARRENTED SPECULATION), Simon Schama raises important questions about the truth of history. How do historians know what really happened? Well the truth is, they don't. At best, our reconstructions of the past are partial truths. They are partial truths because no one is free from prejudice. They are partial truths, because try as we might to be objective, we cannot help but place our own interpretation on "facts." They are partial truths because eye witnesses to history seldom know all the "facts." They are partial truths because language is alive and word meanings change over time. And, they are partial truths because eye witnesses often lie.What really happened in the past times? In recent years, new historical practicioners have begun to revisit primary materials and attempt to piece together their version of what these documents tell them. This revisionist history has it's supporters, but in the end, who is to say their interpretations are free of bias and agenda?In DEAD CERTAINTIES Schama revisits the story of Wolfe the British hero of the 1700's on the 'Heights of Abraham' in Canada. Probably every Canadian school child of my generation, plus a few Americans, remembers the words, "Wolfe the dauntless hero came and planted firm Britannia's flag on Canada's fair domain." I don't know if it's still politically correct to sing these words in Canada, but I believe at one time they were the words to the national anthem.Everyone who's ever taken a course in art has probably seen a photograph of Benjamin West's monumental painting "The Death of General Wolfe." It is a magnificent painting of a beautiful young man in the last agony of life, looking toward a distant and dramatic horizon. The painting has inspired generations of Canadians to national patriotism. The painting supposedly depicts the last hour of General Wolfe. Schama says, "Not so fast." He then goes on to tell as best he can given the material at hand, what he believes happened on that fateful day when General Wolfe met his maker (maybe he did, maybe he didn't).The book also contains a second "story" about a murder that took place in New England in the last century. This "story" reads like a detective fiction. Schama demonstrates though his own research who he thinks the real killer was. It is an excellent read even if you don't like history.This book sheds a little light on historiography--how historians have framed history in the past and how they go about it today. The book should be required reading for anyone who wants to know more about history and how it is written.

Great product fast delivery. A+++++

A strange book, more fiction than history

speculative what might have beens of history from the pen of the master, fascinating -puts a human face on events

Mr. Schama knows how to tell a good story, and this book is no exception. The "only" three star rating certainly does not imply that this is not a good little read, because it is. But the subjects of the stories are in all honesty of very limited historical interest. The 'unwarranted speculations' mentioned on the title page only concern the fact that a very popular 'heroic' painting of a person's death may totally misrepresent the true circumstances of his death and give him a larger-than-life place in history. The other case history - in itself a nice crime story - teaches us that a murder suspect's high social standing may (or at least, used to) strongly colour peoples' perception of his possible guilt.All true, of course; but hardly any big surprises here. And although this book won't provide you with new insights, it will help you to pleasantly kill a few hours.

A highly original way of writing history. The accounts of the various paintings of the death of Geeneral Wolf is particularly good.