Books & Literary Life
Literary criticism, author interviews, and book culture from within and beyond Harvard.
How Adam Ehrlich Sachs Writes Absurd and Beautiful Fiction
The Gretel and the Great War author on how the Lampoon derailed his science career—and set him on a literary path.
by Eric Olson
Michael Sandel’s “The Tyranny of Merit” reviewed by Spencer Lenfield
Michael Sandel makes the case against meritocracy.
Recent books with Harvard connections
Recent books with Harvard connections
Harvard University Press releases “Racism in America: A Reader”
Harvard University Press releases a new book, Racism in America: A Reader, free online.
Why Do We Still Have the Electoral College?
Historian Alexander Keyssar on why the unpopular institution has prevailed
How Harvard Handled the 1918 Flu Pandemic
Fall semester interrupted, a century ago
by Matteo Wong
Callimachus
Brief life of a multifaceted poet: c. 310 B.C.E. - c. 240 B.C.E.
by Stephanie Burt , Mark Payne
Excerpt from Marjorie Garber, “Character: The History of a Cultural Obsession”
Marjorie Garber explores the word’s complexity and history.
Excerpt from Alex Keyssar “Why Do We Still Have the Electoral College?”
Problematic features of the Electoral College
Recent books with Harvard connections
Recent books with Harvard connections
Author Gabrielle Zevin profiled by Nell Porter Brown
A prescient novelist is hopeful that “after great change, amazing things can happen.”