The History Man

Brief Overview

Malcolm Bradbury's novel «The History Man» tells the story of Howard Kirk, a radical sociologist teaching at a university in a fictional English town. Set in the 1970s, a time of significant social and political change impacting the academic world, Howard and his wife Barbara are actively involved in liberal and progressive movements, yet their personal lives are fraught with contradictions and manipulation. The novel explores themes of morality, power, and hypocrisy, illustrating how ideals can be distorted in the pursuit of personal ambitions.