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laurabearhere 's review for:
The Daughter of Time
by Josephine Tey
The first thing to know is that Josephine Tey is not a historian, and that this book, although centering around a historical controversy, is first and foremost a fictional mystery. Don't expect footnotes or even a bibliography.
However, once you accept that, this book is a marvelous journey into the nature of history. Through a bedridden detective and his research assistant, the reader journeys into a world where "everyone" is wrong, history textbooks are false, and even the most respected historians operate on hearsay. It's a story where one of the most notorious murderers of history is shown to be a kind uncle, loyal father, and peacemaking king.
The adage that the winners write history is nothing new. But the the idea that their smearing of one man has endured for over four centuries is sort of horrifying, and shows us just how mistaken our convictions about the authenticity of history can be. And it should make us think about the way we write history, as well. We may not cover up or pin murders, but do we falsify the past to make ourselves look better? I think so.
However, once you accept that, this book is a marvelous journey into the nature of history. Through a bedridden detective and his research assistant, the reader journeys into a world where "everyone" is wrong, history textbooks are false, and even the most respected historians operate on hearsay. It's a story where one of the most notorious murderers of history is shown to be a kind uncle, loyal father, and peacemaking king.
The adage that the winners write history is nothing new. But the the idea that their smearing of one man has endured for over four centuries is sort of horrifying, and shows us just how mistaken our convictions about the authenticity of history can be. And it should make us think about the way we write history, as well. We may not cover up or pin murders, but do we falsify the past to make ourselves look better? I think so.