Things of the past: A Modern Yearning

The book explores our yearning for things of the past, from early modern antiquarianism to recent discussions about the repatriation of material cultural heritage. Through the things of the past, I argue, historical scholarship allows us to imagine ourselves and the world around us in different ways. The things are bearers of hopes and dreams as well as fears and feelings of loss. They give evidence to the possibilities and contingencies of the modern world. So, the book is a journey not only into the history of historical scholarship, but also into the modern condition and our relationship to the past as modern human beings.