Adam Timmins's book is an immensely important effort to overcome the influence of postmodernist anti-realism in the philosophy of history, typically manifested as the view that historical past did not happen and that it is merely constructed by historians. The book surveys, presents, and refutes arguments in favor of anti-realist positions about historical past and provides a comprehensive theory of historical facts. This rejection of postmodernist anti-realism has important political implications: if historical past did not happen, then past acts of oppression also did not happen, and it becomes impossible to condemn them. In opposition to such views, a realist position, such as the one advocated by Timmins, provides a solid base for a humanist perspective on history. -- Branko Mitrovic , Norges Teknisk-Naturvitenskapelige Universitet At a time when many philosophers of history regard "realism," "truth," and "objectivity" as relicts from a precritical past, Adam Timmins undertakes a courageous attempt to sort out how convincing the case against realism is. In polemical, sometimes bitingly ironic prose, he identifies so many argumentative fallacies and blind spots that the reader, even if not fully convinced by all of Timmins' objections, will at least be cured from the sloppy habit of assuming that realism is no longer worth defending. -- Herman Paul, Professor of the History of the Humanities, Leiden University.