G. R. Elton was Regius Professor of Modern History at Cambridge University from 1983 to 1988. Among his numerous works are The Tudor Revolution in Government (1953), England under the Tudors (1955), Reform and Renewal (1973), The Parliament of England 1559–1581 and The English (Blackwell, 1992), and he was founding editor of the Blackwell History of the Modern British Isles. Professor Elton was President of the Royal Historical Society from 1972 until 1976 and honorary Vice-President from 1976 until his death in 1994.

• Preface. 1. Purpose.The Present Debate.Autonomy.Kinds.Rivals.Purpose.2. Research.The Possibility of Historical Truth.Facts and Methods.The Sources.Evidence and Criticism.Imagination.3. Writing.Controls.Patterns and Bias.Style.Audience.Categories.Length.Analysis and Narrative.4. Teaching.Undergraduate Teaching: What?.Undergraduate Teaching: How?.The Graduate Student.Afterword. (Richard J. Evans).Notes.Index.