Cirrus@Austlit

'This article outlines some aspects of Hancock's career, psychology and his ideas on writing history. It begins with a discussion of Hancock's relations with siblings and parents, and some speculative connections are drawn between childhood and his historical imagination. Then there follows a discussion of Hancock's work on historical method and imperial history in terms of his use of metaphor, paradox and irony. Some links are drawn between narrative form, the psychology of the author, and his way of posing questions and conceptualizing problems.'

Source: Opening paragraph.