ABSTRACT
A liberal humanist critique of Marxist radicalism, Malcolm Bradbury's narrative focuses on Howard Kirk, a sociology lecturer who assumes that the ends justify the means and history is on his side. According to Bradbury, the 'hero-villain' of The History Man is a rogue of rogues, But at least Howard believed even if it was chiefly for his own advantage in all the things that still do matter. He believed in history, society, philosophy, ideas, human progress, mental discovery, all that's left of the Enlightenment Project. Bradbury, 'Welcome Back to the History Man'. The novel's title is usually associated with its principal character but it equally refers to the author. While Kirk's confidence in his inevitable destiny is paradoxically a-historical, Bradbury's conception of history is dialogical. The author and his principal character both criticise the new university's architecture. Equally it is a fictional autobiography, indicating the society to which he wished to belong. Part-historian, part-novelist, the architect is The History Man.
