There haven't been many historians who have been truly inspirational, it's not always a job that requires it. Thucydides and Herodotus get mentions for inventing the career, and there have been various great historians through the ages which have been remarkable for their accuracy, hindsight, insight, persistance and eloquence. For me, my personal history hero (that looks so sad written down) is Howard Zinn, who passed away in January. Zinn was a kind of anti-establishment 'against the grain' rebel figure, possesed of a charisma which very few historians have had. I read his book (his magnum opus) A Peoples History of America a few years ago and it really was unlike any history book i'd ever read. While it could never be described as a perfect work of history, a far from unbiased book as it is, the quality and passion visible in the writing, and the amazing obscure quotes Zinn dug out really brought his work to life in a way i've never quite experienced in any other piece of literature. The pages themselves smelled of America. Zinn spoke at rallies and branched out into various fields of the media world and really is quite a legendary figure for those of us who like to view history of something more relevant than a series of events long since passed.
His backstory was that beautiful story of the working class Brooklyn boy who came good, served in the forces and had his eyes opened wide to world. I can even imagine a film being made about him, and it wouldn't be such a bad thing if awareness of him and his work became alot more common.
In his words "You can't be neutral on a moving train"
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