Books & Literary Life
Literary criticism, author interviews, and book culture from within and beyond Harvard.
These Harvard Mountaineers Braved Denali’s Wall of Ice
John Graham’s Denali Diary documents a dangerous and historic climb.
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
“Lives in Limbo”—Roberto Gonzales tallies the human and social costs
Sociologist Roberto Gonzales on the predicament of undocumented young people
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.”
Ceridwen Dovey’s “Life After Truth”
How Harvard reunions are cast in Ceridwen Dovey’s Life After Truth