I have Thompson's book. I bought it in the late 70's and have held onto it despite finding it a bit much in my first attempt to read it. But I agree: it's the protest of history against social science, particularism against theory, and so on down the dualities.
The last time I thought about "The Making" was when I read "Hi…
I have Thompson's book. I bought it in the late 70's and have held onto it despite finding it a bit much in my first attempt to read it. But I agree: it's the protest of history against social science, particularism against theory, and so on down the dualities.
The last time I thought about "The Making" was when I read "Hillbilly Elegy" (and, before that, Joan's Williams "White Working Class") J.D. Vance seems subsequently to have surrendered to the Stalinism (now turned Trumpism) that Thompson resisted, but perhaps even Vance's sad story is an illustration of Orwell's point: that we are changed by history even as we attempt to "make" it.
But this points a way out of your dilemma; you can assign "Hillbilly Elegy" instead!
Thanks for this.
I have Thompson's book. I bought it in the late 70's and have held onto it despite finding it a bit much in my first attempt to read it. But I agree: it's the protest of history against social science, particularism against theory, and so on down the dualities.
The last time I thought about "The Making" was when I read "Hillbilly Elegy" (and, before that, Joan's Williams "White Working Class") J.D. Vance seems subsequently to have surrendered to the Stalinism (now turned Trumpism) that Thompson resisted, but perhaps even Vance's sad story is an illustration of Orwell's point: that we are changed by history even as we attempt to "make" it.
But this points a way out of your dilemma; you can assign "Hillbilly Elegy" instead!
That would be a good idea... If only giving J.D. Vance oxygen were not a downside...