Grande et petite histoire chez Thomas Chapais

Abstract

Thomas Chapais (1858-1946) was one of the first French-Canadian historians to devote part of his written works and speeches to reflecting on the forms that history writing can take. At a time when his reputation was already well established, he developed an original way of thinking about monography and synthesis, explicitly adopting a literary and poetic conception of history. Underlying these ideas about form were two
approaches to history, based on a single mode of inquiry but using different focal points for observation : grande histoire and petite histoire. Prior to this reflection, Chapais attempted to resolve the tension between “impartiality” and “impassivity.” This enabled him to develop his conception of the ideal historian, concerned with historical truth, attachment to a national reality, and the importance of style in the writing of history.