Conceptions of distance are foundational to historical thought, but this book gives the idea new subtlety and meaning. The book argues that distance is a matter not just of time and space but also of form, affect, ideology, and understanding. In this study, the book examines the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and contemporary histories, as well as a broad spectrum of historical genres—including local history, literary history, counter-factual fiction, history painting, and museology.