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

Recent books with Harvard connections

Recent books with Harvard connections

Boston Book Festival

A literary festival for children and adults

by Nell Porter-Brown

Harvard University Press releases “Racism in America: A Reader”

Harvard University Press releases a new book, Racism in America: A Reader, free online.

by Lydialyle Gibson

Why Do We Still Have the Electoral College?

Historian Alexander Keyssar on why the unpopular institution has prevailed 

by Marina N. Bolotnikova

How Harvard Handled the 1918 Flu Pandemic

Fall semester interrupted, a century ago

by Matteo Wong

Author Gabrielle Zevin profiled by Nell Porter Brown

A prescient novelist is hopeful that “after great change, amazing things can happen.”

by Nell Porter-Brown

“Lives in Limbo”—Roberto Gonzales tallies the human and social costs

Sociologist Roberto Gonzales on the predicament of undocumented young people

by Lydialyle Gibson

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