Ann Curthoys– Ann McGrath How to Write History people want to read

This practical book, drawn from decades of experience, is an indispensable guide to writing history. 

Aimed at all kinds of people who write history – academic historians, public historians, professional historians, family historians and students of all levels – the book includes a wide range of examples from many genres and styles. 

It advises writers on how much research is necessary, how to manage notes and files, when you should start writing, whether to use the first person and whether to structure your work chronologically or thematically. It offers tips on how to write a compelling narrative, discusses dialogue and how much to include, and gives guidance on referencing. 

Full of examples, including many from the authors’ own experiences, this book is an indispensable guide to writing history.

About The authors

ANN CURTHOYS Professor of History at the University of Sydney, Australia. In addition to writing about historical theory and method, she has written about many facets of Australian history, especially the relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Her previous books include Freedom Ride: A Freedomrider Remembers (2002) and (with Mary Spongberg and Barbara Caine), A Companion to Women's Historical Writing (Palgrave, 2005).

ANN MCGRATH Professor of History at the Australian National University, Australia. She has written numerous books and articles, including 'Born in the Cattle': Aborigines in Cattle Country (1987) and with Pat Grimshaw, Marilyn Lake and Marian Quartly, co-authored Creating a Nation (1994). McGrath has won various prizes for writing and has worked as a historian on public enquiries and commissions, has made television documentaries, curated museum exhibitions and developed pod-streaming history projects.