Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History, 20th Anniversary Edition

Going through graduate school in history in the 1990s, one was forced to read way too many books like this one. Incorporating "insights" from literary theory, critical studies, anthropology and the like was all the rage. Quote Foucault, bury your book in dense, impenetrable prose, champion the cause of downtrodden "others" or "subalterns" and you had academic gold. Much of it was full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. But the writers of these blights on the production of knowledge loved citing each other and telling each other how great they were. This book is very much of the time period and like those books, it hasn't aged well, but the latte left will still claim it's somehow wonderfully insightful. It is badly written, poorly argued and pretty dull. The chapter introductions are especially insufferable and pretentious. And hilariously the author somehow thinks he's writing for undergraduates. Really? It's certainly true that the intellectual level and ability to read of the average college student has declined precipitously in the last couple decades, but even students in the 90s would not have understood or appreciated this. His presumption that undergrads are conversant in the basic parameters of French history is in itself a manifestation of the "privilege" he wants to rail against.There are, to be sure, a few relevant points about the problems of memory and how popular culture and perceptions influence the popular understanding of history are found buried in the generally awful prose. But this could have been much better as an article. Definitely not recommended for undergrads. Even grad students will find it hard going unless they are specialists in Haitian history.

Merging Foucault with Marx, Trouillot argued the power in the historical narrative as a means of production for the narrative itself—and thus, history. As Trouillot stated in his Preface, “History is the fruit of power, but power itself is never so transparent that its analysis becomes superfluous. The ultimate mark of power may be its invisibility; the ultimate challenge, the exposition of its roots” (xxiii). The choices historians make shape their narratives, and history, for better or worse, while contributing to the power of that narrative overall, for the past, the present, and the future. The seeds, fruit and consumption of history are the power.

Great examination of the production of history. Using the falsehoods of the Alamo and Holocaust, to reveal our desires to hold onto narratives, brilliantly shows how narratives become more important than truth. Silencing the Past delves into the silences or selectivity of historical production and the various purposes history serves for the public. Chapter 4 is an intriguing chapter on Christopher Columbus I'd encourage you to read.

Book is in excellent condition. Good review of how history is written. I like the quote "history is a story about power, a story about those who won" (p. 5). This book explores how history has been reported in Europe, the Caribbean, America, and Africa. Very insightful.

A notable Haitian historian examines how countries decide to remember or forget in order to create a narrative of who they are and who belongs. Haiti, El Álamo, a failed Disney park in Virginia are good examples. Slavery and colonialism are passionately discussed. Highly recommended

Troulloit writes about complicated and complex issues in a way that is understood by the reader without jeopardizing, in any way, the content. His writing is smooth and flows with ease. This is a superb book. And like I wrote in the headline, this is a book for anyone but if you are Latin American, this is a must read.

This book is very important and understanding much for what goes on today with the bending of history and accommodating facts to meet a certain purpose. The book is well organized, well documented and challenge of us to see the pass and act upon it in the present

A good read that tackles history, memory and a reckoning with colonialism and slavery. It introduces each topic and engages the reader with difficult questions. Almost 20 years later and it is still relevant.

Ignore politically motivated reviews, this is a well written and fair minded book on a subject of great contemporary importance with the rise of authoritarian governments across the globe and their associated 'culture wars'. The first chapter is somewhat abstract and could be seen as difficult although the gist is quite clear. The rest of the book is a much easier read containing some interesting history as well as many thought-provoking insights. Highly recommended.

We will never comprehend Written history. The fifth star comes from Reading the book and applying your Own thinking about where truth and fact might Be conjoined, If at all? The thrill of personal analysis! Is what reading this book is all about for me.

A technically challenging book written for academics or the well educated reader, the author dissects the production of written & popular history into its constituent elements.Powerful truths are expressed.

Difficult to read on-line. What I have managed to read is quite illuminating and different to other accounts

This is an essential text by a phenomenal writer and very careful historian. If you want to understand what’s wrong with the standard views of Western history, this book will help to set you on the right path.