History as literature, literature as science

Narrativism is one of the greatest challenges of historiography. In his work, Hayden White pointed out the similarity between forms of discourses, techniques, and strategies of historical science and literature. Both historians and writers use the narratives to link historical facts together so any description is simultaneously an interpretation. Such narratives contain the implicit philosophy of history and can even be influenced ideologically – whether consciously or unconsciously. This polemic is focused on the applicability of this critique on the study of Hussitism in Czech historiography, on the limits of this critique, and on the possible use of narratives as a methodological approach.Narrativism is one of the greatest challenges of historiography. In his work, Hayden White pointed out the similarity between forms of discourses, techniques, and strategies of historical science and literature. Both historians and writers use the narratives to link historical facts together so any description is simultaneously an interpretation. Such narratives contain the implicit philosophy of history and can even be influenced ideologically – whether consciously or unconsciously. This polemic is focused on the applicability of this critique on the study of Hussitism in Czech historiography, on the limits of this critique, and on the possible use of narratives as a methodological approach