In 1963, Samuel Eliot Morison, long one of our most distinguished historians, was awarded the first Balzan Prize in History, a prize that rivals the Nobel Prize in splendor and munificence. To receive the award, Admiral Morison had to go to Rome, where he delivered an address, “The Experiences and Principles of an Historian.” This book includes the address he gave, as well a fascinating account of the award ceremonies, of which he was a central figure.

Morison also draws from his own published work to illustrate how a master historian deals with a variety of problems. There are examples from social history, biography, political history, and military history. The entire collection demonstrates brilliantly the breadth of interests, depth of scholarship, and sureness of writing that earned Admiral Morison his great reputation.