In this autobiography, Georges Duby looks back on a career that has led him to be called one of the most distinguished historians in the Western world. Since its beginning in the 1940s, Duby's career has been rich and varied, encompassing economic history, social history, the history of "mentalites", art history, microhistory, urban history, the history of women and sexuality, and the Church's influence on feudal society. In retracing this remarkable career path, Duby candidly remembers his life's most formative influences, including the historians Marc Bloch and Lucien Febvre, the "Annales" School so closely associated with them, and the College de France. Duby also offers insights about the proper methods of gathering and using archival data and on constructing penetrating interpretations of the documents. Indeed, his discussion of how he chose his subjects, collected his materials, developed the arguments, erected the scaffolding and constructed his theses should offer a valuable introduction to aspiring historians.

Foreword by: John W. Baldwin
Translated by: Arthur Goldhammer