John Vincent has often been accused of political incorrectness, but never in his writings about history. In this controversial and thought-provoking study of history, Professor Vincent goes to the very heart of the complex issues raised by the subject. In 1928 Bernard Shaw wrote his Intelligent Woman's Guide to Socialism and Capitalism. Nearly 70 years later, in a simliarly polemical tract, Vincent makes no such concessions to feminist sensibilities or to the politics of the left. The text provides a comprehensive examination of the philosophy and evolution of history. It explores notions of historical evidence, meaning, the concept of historical imagination, morality and history, causality and bias, and hindsight. This is a controversial work by a leading historian. Penetrating, incisive and always provocative, History will be a vital text for the scholar and a stimulating guide for the general reader.