Book looks to the past to explore current issues

Beyond Truman: Robert H. Ferrell and Crafting the Past draws on the life of renowned historian Robert H. Ferrell to explore issues related to the history profession. Ferrell’s life story contextualizes postmodernism, the New Left and the challenges of crafting history.

Douglas A. Dixon analyzes Ferrell’s biases, examining distinctions between his morals and actions as well as his private and public life.

This book provides insight into the subjectivity of history, the boundaries of the discipline and the effects of historians’ social lives on their work.

Dixon earned his Ph.D. from the Mary Frances Early College of Education.