Abstract
Postmodernism has dominated the intellectual world since the 1980's, but reached its peak at the turn of the 21st century. One of the impacts of postmodernism on Western historiography is "the narrative turn," or as its adherents like to proclaim, "the revenge of literature." The key figure in this trend is Hayden White, whose 'Metahistory' (1973) is regarded as the most important classic for historical thinking since Benedetto Croce. White promotes a poetics of history that not only undermines the myth of "scientific history" but also revitalizes the ethos of "history as literature." No less significant, White is among the very few historians whose contributions extend to a wide range of the humanities, from cultural studies to literary criticism. White is known for his erudition and tends to draw on diverse intellectual sources that make his writing a challenge to read. By providing an introductory context based on related perspectives, the article facilitates the understanding of White's major arguments. That contextual foundation serves as a basis for offering not only a balanced assessment of White's contribution but also critical comments about his theory.