The Voice of the Past: Oral History (Opus Books) [Paperback]

Paul Thompson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 25, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0192893173 | ISBN-13: 978-0192893178 | Edition: 3

Now in a new edition, this influential book traces oral history through its own past and weighs up the recent achievements of this international movement. Paul Thompson challenges myths of historical scholarship and looks closely at the use of oral sources by historians. He offers advice on designing a project; discusses reliability of oral evidence; considers the context of the development of historical writing including its social function; and looks at memory, the self and the use of drama and therapy. This new edition has been substantially revised and updated and includes an expanded discussion of narrative approaches and looks at new technology used in the recording of information.

Editorial Reviews

Review

On the second edition: "Paul Thompson is a passionate and convincing crusader in the cause of oral history" --The Times Educational Supplement

"It must be rare in modern academic life to replace your own unrivalled book after 10 years with an even better one, but he has done so. His new material on memory and the self, and on drama as therapy, should be read by literary critics in their infancy."--The Independent

"The first book to combine a theory of oral history, the technical processes involved, and a road map of where oral evidence fits into the landscape of western historiography." --American Historical Review

About the Author

Paul Thompson is Director of the National Life Story Collection in London and founder-editor of Oral History.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 3 edition (May 25, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0192893173
• ISBN-13: 978-0192893178
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #623,504 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #77 in Books > History > Historical Study > Oral History

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Voice of the Past, November 18, 2005

By 

Daniel R. Champagne - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Voice of the Past: Oral History (Opus Books) (Paperback)

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 projects and interviewing and interpreting oral sources in order to produce quality historical scholarship. This book should be required reading for anyone interested in using oral sources in the preparation of history.