So here I am trying to put together an austrian 'version' of British history and i'm finding it very difficult to say the least. When one has a 'Rothbard' on the historical case it is easy to forget that alot of the things he 'weeds' out are not at all obvious and require extensive research and that charming Rothbardian suspicion we all know and love.
Now, my main question is, given the sheer scope and quality of his work, is there a British equivalent of his historical evaluations (rather than the easily accessible list of dates)? I am so sure that British history must be 'down and dirty' that most of what I know about it is surly lacking that austrian dimension (not to mention a bare-faced lie).
As Thomas Woods Jr consistenly points out, the lacking of this austrian dimension leads to (often left wing) historians completely misrepresenting what I in hindsight consider must be the facts of any given historical situation (e.g. the complete silence in the mainstream of US history regarding the Principles of '98 or the interpreting of Roosevelt as 'that free-market guy').
Anyway, apologies for my lengthy sentences, hopefully my request still made sense.
okplzthxbye.
ps: I should note that I am most interested in the 'Treaty of Union' period including factors antecedant to the creation of the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain' (just the name makes me want to puke) at the turn of the 18th century. Anyway, thanks again for any help anyone can provide. I'm just trying to find out the truth so if anyone's got any links to it that'd be just dandy.
Doesn't A J P Taylor have any work on the matter? He was a controversial figure and one of Rothbard's (as well as my history teacher's) favourite historians.
-Jon
To darkness I condemn you...
Rothbard's Conceived in Liberty touches on it...in fairly broad brush strokes in the early chapters.
There is a Literature section of this site with 90 some odd pages...plus audio books and the like in the Media section. Not to mention the Articles section. And it all is serviced by the search function. Who knows what you'll stumble on. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.
I shall try and check out this J P Taylor fellow and see what he has to say.
and I should note while I have only joined the forum today I have been 'with' the institute for a short while now (i've listened to almost every piece of audio/visual material they've posted and also read my fair share too - yes I have no social/love life so lots of time to use for scholarly purposes!).
thanks for your speedy replies though, I was wondering as a new user how 'alive' this board is...
Jon Irenicus: Doesn't A J P Taylor have any work on the matter? He was a controversial figure and one of Rothbard's (as well as my history teacher's) favourite historians. -Jon
My old history teacher was also rather fond of AJP, I watched a few things by him and I found him quite interesting so it's good to know that Rothbard "approves".
"You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows"
Bob Dylan
Taylor was a socialist and objected to capitalism on both moral and practical grounds. However, I can see Rothbard liking him because Taylor was also a major critic of the establishment and most conventional wisdoms.
I just found this out, born to a left wing father and of the opinion that Michael Foot (Labour Prime Minister 1980-83) was a great man. Have ordered his book on Bismark as I found this guy very interesting (a socialist who liked to explain candidly what his socialist policies were all about, namely making his people dependant upon the state).
Clearly there is a big niche here for someone to come along and do some revisionist work on British history.
I am not aware of anything like you are looking for exists but the scholarship to make one exists. If I were writing something (I am studying for fun ...not writing) I would start with the books of F. W. Maitland.
The books are expensive sometimes, so look for them used. Maitland is more popular in the US than he is in England but he seems to be gaining ground now in England as well now that Stubbs is viewed as writing through Victorian lenses.
What may be of interest to an Austrian scholar is "A Historical Sketch of Liberty and Equality" , "The Forms of Action at Common Law", and "A History of English Law Before the Time Of Edward I".
Reading Mises, Rothbard and Hoppe and then researching Maitland one should be able to form an Austrian critique of the History of England.
http://www.comebackalive.com/phpBB2 Travel, Adventure Travel, Arguments, Recipes.
thanks for the recomendations!
Putting this picture together I have realised will be a lifelong enterprise to undertake (better start now!)
I remember, very vaguely, Rothbard harping on about the British Corn Laws to great degree, and how they helped found socialism within the UK.
I don't remember if I read it, or listened to it on one of his audio lectures. But I do remember this piece of data being connected to Murray one way or the other. I'm sure it's out there, but it might not be as easily findable as other history by him.
If you're really curious, email Jeff Tucker. I did this once, and he knew right off the perfect piece to support my thoughts. He knows where all the goods are.
~jaq
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