With the ever-growing enthusiasm for genealogy and social history, this book on the practice and use of oral history will have considerable appeal. It falls into two parts, the first exploring some of the general issues that arise for those embarking on oral histories, such as confidentiality, transcribing from oral to written form, and the particular situation of Maori oral history; the second part deals with a fascinating variety and range of particular cases, from the history of an amateur dramatic society, to that of a religious community, to stories of child abuse, and of lesbian experience. The authors have all had considerable experience in the field and draw on a range of backgrounds. Addressed to the interested general reader this very readable book shows that oral history has a unique and valuable contribution to make to our understanding of the past.

Author Biography

Anna Green teaches in the History Department at the University of Walkato and has had extensive experience teaching and writing oral history. She is the co-author of Houses of History (1999) and author of British Capital, Antipodean Labour (2001). Megan Hutching is the oral historian in the History Group of the Ministry of Culture and Heritage. Her most recent book is 'A Unique Sort of Battle': New Zealanders Remember Crete (2001)