何谓“最高级别的历史书写”——读《自由,战场的呼唤——美国的内战时代》

What Is “Historical Writing of the Highest Order”? A Review of James MacPherson's Battle Cry of Freedom:The Civil War Era

《自由,战场的呼唤》面世后,作为美国学界首部以单卷本形式、综合论述美国内战史的著作,被一些美国学者誉为"最高级别的历史书写"。这样的褒奖说明,该书在结构编排、史学方法的运用、研究角度的切入、论述主题的深刻寓意、资料的结构运用与印证分析、文史写作方法的融合、语言表述风格等方面,均超过了前人的水平。但是,囿于主客观因素的限制,该书也存在着诸多结构性和立论性缺陷,其中包括章节结构中"虎头蛇尾"的安排、南方战败的"偶然性"因素分析、对自由概念的追加性解释、林肯在废奴进程中的作用,以及论述中对边缘地带诸州的忽略,等等,都使《自由,战场的呼唤》成为学界批判的由头。不过,美国学界围绕该书的争论及其对美国内战史研究的促进作用,都是该书价值外溢效应的体现。

As the first single volume work on the U.S.Civil War,The Battle Cry of Freedom：The Civil War Era by James McPherson has been regarded as＂Historical writing of the highest order＂.Such kind of views implies that the book has superseded all of previous works in constructive arrangements,emphasis on military history,new methodology in writing.analytical perspectives,implications of the title of the book,usage of the primary documents and secondary literature and prose language style,etc.However,The Battle Cry of Freedom has its own shortcomings,including abrupt ending in last chapter,followed by a ten-page conclusion,the author＇s explanation in the South＇s failure during the Civil War,Lincoln＇s role in liberating slaves,neglect of the role played by states and territories which were far from the battle ground,such California and New Hampshire,etc.,all of these problems in the book have become the subject of criticism in the U.S.historical community.Of course,further discussions about the book will lead to progress in Civil War studies,which can also be regarded as the spillover effects of The Battle Cry of Freedom.