Marc Bloch has been very influential in the development of both history and social science. Comparative historians, historical geographers, and historical sociologists have all pointed to his work as a model. This book is the first detailed examination of the relationship of his work to both Durkheimian sociology and Vidalian geography. Through a careful examination of the debates in which he was involved and the institutional circumstances in which he worked, it places Bloch's work within its intellectual context, and assesses the nature of his contribution. Professor Friedman argues that, despite the frequent claims of scholars in history, sociology and geography, Bloch did not adopt either the Durkheimian or Vidalian approach. Both disciplines were central to his intellectual development, but Bloch's relationships to the two disciplines were interdependent, and the result was his own highly acclaimed and unique approach.

"Apart from being a meticulous investigation of the scholarly development of Bloch's ideas, the book also provides insights into the influential groups of scholars, the Annales school, as well as French intellectual life in general. Friedman's treatment of the profound importance of the University of Strassbourg in terms of French patriotism as well as scholarship is another bonus. Well indexed and referenced; footnotes transcend mere citations and should be read carefully for their illuminating forays into ideas rendered in the text." Choice