“[H]istorians never have just what they want or need. At one extreme is the historian limited to one source. Einhard’s Life of Charlemagne
is, for example, the only source scholars have about the private life of Europe’s first emperor. Like many of the political biographies written today, this one is more hagiography than critical biography, and in the best of worlds historians might refuse to use it as evidence about Charlemagne’s life and his character. But historians, although conscious they are prisoners of the unique source and bear all the risks that this involves, use it because it is all they have.”
is, for example, the only source scholars have about the private life of Europe’s first emperor. Like many of the political biographies written today, this one is more hagiography than critical biography, and in the best of worlds historians might refuse to use it as evidence about Charlemagne’s life and his character. But historians, although conscious they are prisoners of the unique source and bear all the risks that this involves, use it because it is all they have.”— Martha C. Howell & Walter Prevenier, From Reliable Sources: An Introduction to Historical Methods
(Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2001) p.81.
(Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2001) p.81.
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