以景观为媒——英国史学家威廉·霍斯金斯的乡土情怀及公众史学实践探析

Through the Lens of Landscape:On English Historian William Hoskins Devotion to the Local and His Engagement with Public History

霍斯金斯作为“一位十足的英格兰史学家”,自小就在丰富多彩的景观文化中浸润成长,并以英格兰地方及其景观为治史的主要对象,不仅在学术界而且在社会上赢得了盛赞。霍斯金斯从关注故乡德文郡及其历史开始,逐步拓展、强化对地方景观历史的研究,并积累了撰述英格兰景观历史的丰厚知识。他以景观为媒,通过公开演讲和著书立说相互促进的方式,在批判现实中回望过去,深入挖掘景观的历史文化根基并努力弘扬其公共价值,积极开展以景观故事宣讲和地方景观保护为核心的公众史学实践,体现了一位公众史学家抒发乡土情怀的意义,为我们今天思考如何从内容和形式上拓展公众史学、如何发挥史学对公民乡土文化和国情教育的作用提供了有益参照。

As“a very English Historian of England”,William Hoskins grew up in this country's colorful landscape culture.He focused on England and its landscape in his historical research,which was highly regarded not only in academia but also among the public.He started with researching his hometown Devon and its history.He then gradually expanded and strengthened his interest in the history of local landscape,and accumulated rich knowledge about the history of Landscape in England.Through the lens of landscape,he revisited the past through critically examining the reality.By delivering public speeches and writing books,he dug into the deep historical and cultural roots of landscape,striving to promote its public value.He also actively participated in public history primarily by publicizing the stories about the local landscape and making efforts to protect it.His work is an embodiment of the significance when a public historian acted upon his local feelings.It provides a useful reference for us to think about how to further promote public history both in its content and format,and how historiography can help to nurture local cultures as well as to offer education on national citizenry.