Thomas Carlyle’s “The French Revolution” in the Historiographical Field of H. White’s “Metahistory

This article examines the reactions of Victorian-era scholars to the 2020 academic publication of Thomas Carlyle’s “The French Revolution: A History”, originally released in 1837. It posits that “The French Revolution” continues to be predominantly regarded within the context of the European literary movement of the XIX century. However, the transformation of the historiographical landscape following the advent of Hayden White’s “Metahistory” facilitates a shift in scholarly interest from Carlyle as a participant in literary discourse to Carlyle-historian. Through the analysis of essays on history and epistolary heritage from the early 1830s, the article elucidates Carlyle’s “historical philosophy”, enabling an interpretation of “The French Revolution” as a product of historical imagination, aptly conveyed through a distinctive form of historiography – epic narrative. It is emphasized that the practice of composing “The French Revolution” aligns structurally with the issue of historical imagination and the narrative strategies outlined in Hayden White’s interpretations. This alignment underscores the significance of investigating the concept of historical imagination for a deeper understanding of the historiographical processes of the XIX century.