Whig Historiography in the Nineteenth Century a Myth about a Myth?

Abstract

In the preceding chapter we presented the more general objections, published since 1890, to Victorian historical writings, particularly to the constitutional Whig historical writings. We designated the first attempts towards a breakthrough: the relativization of this specific area through the emergence of other branches of history and with the initial disintegration of the Whig view by a new approach.

… the continued survival of the (Whig) myth through the times of Stubbs is one of the most interesting and significant facts in its history.

(G. Kitson Clark, 1967)

A fruitful source of error, in all historical enquiries is found in the translation of ancient terms by modern ideas

(F. Palgave, 1822)