The Voice of the Past: Oral History

by Paul Thompson

Book Overview

In this new edition of a standard text on the subject, Paul Thompson argues that oral history, though largely neglected by conventional historians, can help to create a truer, more democratic picture of the past, documenting the lives and feelings of all types of people. In addition to tracing the development, theory, and practical methods of oral history, this edition includes many new examples and chapters, and an enlarged bibliography, bringing...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0192892169
• ISBN13: 9780192892164
• Release Date: June 1988
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 326 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.1" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

The Voice of the Past

In his book, "The Voice of the Past: Oral History," Paul Thompson successfully explores all aspects of oral history - from a historiographical journey that analyzes oral history through the ages to advice on designing projects, interviewing techniques, organizing information, and interpretation. According to the author, "The book is, first of all, an introduction to the use of oral sources by the historian. But the very use of these sources raises fundamental issues, and I have decided to take these at the beginning, moving step by step towards the more practical later chapters." (Thompson, v) Throughout the text, Thompson reminds the reader of the merits of oral history and how it compares with the modern historians more traditional documentary sources. In addition, the updated edition looks at new technology, including video and multimedia, and the international and interdisciplinary aspects of the oral history movement. The result is an original and authoritative guide on the methods and meaning of oral history. What makes "The Voice of the Past" stand out among the other research instructional guides is its passion and ability to focus primarily on the legitimacy of oral evidence - the first book of its kind to do so. Especially useful are the chapters on the mechanical aspects of oral interviewing, processing and interpretation. These sections are informative and highly systematic, providing clear and specific instructions about collecting and using oral sources. In Chapter 3, "Achievement of Oral History," Thompson provides an in depth analysis of recent writings and contributions to support his case for oral evidence. The book also includes a helpful "Life Story Interview Guide" - a schematic outline that offers key themes and sample interview questions - and a detailed "Further Reading" section that points the way to more avenues of inquiry. Although the book is both scholarly and informative, and includes an occasional oral vignette, the author’s writing style doesn’t always illuminate the ways in which oral sources can make history come alive. Indeed, some chapters make for some pretty dry reading, particularly the sections that trace the history of oral history. Moreover, the book lacks a good writing sample that truly captures the spirit of oral evidence. If readers are interested in a style that is more accessible, they would be better served with other prominent works in the field, such as "The Oral History Reader" by Robert Perks and Alistair Thomson, and "Doing Oral History: A Practical Guide" by Donald Ritchie. Both books are eloquent and user-friendly, making oral histories seem a little less daunting and more enjoyable. The minor oversights notwithstanding, "The Voice of the Past" is a solid guide on the methods and meaning of oral history. Thompson has done an excellent job at not only examining the ways historians have used oral evidence over time, but also offering advice on the mechanics of designing project