Historicism may be considered "one of the greatest revolutions in Western thought" (F. Meinecke). Edward C. Thaden has examined in depth the rise of historicism in Russia. Focusing on the paradigm shift in the Russian historical thought from Enlightenment to historicism, Dr. Thaden begins in the eighteenth century and ends in 1879 with the death of S. M. Solov'ev, author of a monumental twenty-nine-volume history of Russia.
"With a precision typical for the pioneering historian of the Russian borderlands, Edward C. Thaden explores in his magisterial study of Russian historicism a neglected dimension of Western intellectual history. His meticulously documented, erudite, and balanced portrait enriches expert and general reader alike." (Leo Schelbert, Professor of History, University of Illinois at Chicago)
"For the first time, Europeanists, Russian specialists, and historians have a superb survey of the role of historicism in the evolution of Russian historiography. This landmark analysis elucidates the European context of the origins and evolution of the Russian historical profession, including a brilliant comparison of two of Russia's most interesting and influential historians, Iurii Samarin and Sergei Solov'ev." (Carl W. Reddel, Professor of History, United States Air Force Academy)
"For the first time, Europeanists, Russian specialists, and historians have a superb survey of the role of historicism in the evolution of Russian historiography. This landmark analysis elucidates the European context of the origins and evolution of the Russian historical profession, including a brilliant comparison of two of Russia's most interesting and influential historians, Iurii Samarin and Sergei Solov'ev." (Carl W. Reddel, Professor of History, United States Air Force Academy)