Humanities

Exploring the medieval roots of romance

Stanford historian Jenna Phillips discusses the influence of medieval customs on Valentine’s Day traditions, highlighting how 12th- and 13th-century poets and musicians shaped our modern understanding of love.

From left: Ray Briggs, Julian Jara-Ettinger, and Joshua Landy talk

Beloved podcast 'Philosophy Talk' now available for free

Two seated students look intensely at a speaker as they perform Richard III

New English courses fuse creativity with literary criticism

Portrait of Jonathan Gienapp

Jonathan Gienapp wins Order of the Coif book award

Portrait of Al Camarillo

Four things to know about ethnic studies in California high schools

Portrait of Gerald Gillespie

Gerald Gillespie, devoted professor of German and comparative literature, dies at 92

Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité engraved between two columns

Historian chronicles one of the French Revolution’s most notorious figures

Collage of Keith Baker and cover of "Jean-Paul Marat"

Jean-Paul Marat: Prophet of Terror by Keith Baker, History

Collage of portraits, from left to right: Jennifer Burns, Dan Edelstein, Stephen H. Haber

Three H&S faculty become American Academy of Sciences and Letters members

Exploring the Louvre heist with French culture expert Cécile Alduy

Matthew Sommer wearing a light-blue collared shirt standing under one of arcades on Stanford's Main Quad

Matthew Sommer awarded American Historical Association prize

Stanford inaugurates new home of MLK Institute

Portrait of Ramón Saldívar

Ramón Saldívar receives MLA lifetime achievement award

Collage of Adam Johnson and the Wayfinder cover

The Wayfinder by Adam Johnson, English

Collage of Zipperstein and the book cover of the Philip Roth biography

Philip Roth: Stung by Life by Steven J. Zipperstein, History

Photo of Philip Roth book collection

Capturing the brilliant, complicated life of Philip Roth

Portrait of Adam Johnson in his office

Stanford Pulitzer winner’s new novel tells epic tale born from writing ‘every day for 10 years’

Student stands in front of the interactive screen in the Rumsey Map Center

New undergraduate study options combine data science with humanities and arts

On a stage, a woman sits in a chair and a man stands in front of a lecturn

New speaker forum to focus on building bridges across differences

The outside of the conference room with a quote from MLK, Jr. at the top
Photo by Misha Bruk for Stanford University

King Institute embraces new home on Main Quad

Image of Joel Cabrita

Joel Cabrita wins Aidoo-Snyder Book Prize

Portrait of Josiah Ober

Josiah Ober awarded 2025 Balzan Prize

Nicholas Jenkins wins Northern California Book Award

MLK Jr. surrounded by microphones. Atlanta, GA, 1966: Alabama candidate press conference

Three things to know about the recently released MLK records

Portrait of Blakey Vermeule

Blakey Vermeule named senior associate dean for the humanities and arts

A student lifts a rock in a tide pool to see what is beneath

Oceanic humanities project envisions new wave in education

Picture of the side gate of Stanford's Main Quad with no people

Seven faculty members awarded 2024-25 H&S dean's teaching awards

A portrait of Michael Friedman

Michael Friedman, who studied the connections between philosophy and science, has died

Portrait of Gordon Chang

Historian Gordon H. Chang reflects on his varied career with new book

Collage of Gordon H. Chang and the cover of his book

War, Race, and Culture by Gordon H. Chang, History

Photo of Ana Minian

Stanford historian's book on immigration wins PEN America nonfiction award

Nancy Packer speaks at the memorial for former Stanford President Richard W. Lyman in 2012.

Nancy Huddleston Packer, award-winning writer who served as director of Creative Writing Program, has died

Portrait of Josiah Ober

Josiah Ober’s mission to revitalize democracy and civic education