Whiskey Rebellion 057: Who Owns History?

Recent comments by historians Joseph Ellis and Gordon Wood has prompted a contentuous debate about how academic historians engage with the public. Frank and David discuss, including:

• Whether academic historians used to write better/more accessibly than they do now
• Why some kinds of historical writing tend to generate a larger popular audience
• Whether academic historians don't celebrate patriotic narratives enough
• How academic historians can and should engage with the public in 2018

Plus! David addresses feedback on our last episode from a loyal listener in Edinburgh.

Last Drops

David: John Dickerson's article on the presidency in the Atlantic

Frank: Kanye West's comments about Trump and slavery