Stephen Greenblatt

American literary critic, theorist and scholar · United States · On the map · Academics · Born 1943 · age 83

Stephen Jay Greenblatt is an American literary historian and author. He has served as the John Cogan University Professor of the Humanities at Harvard University since 2000.

Stephen Greenblatt is read about 183 times a day, in 24 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 6 November 2026

The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 104 days, one point a day.

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A life in dates

2025Knight Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of GermanyAwardMore about this2018“As with modern totalitarian regimes, people developed techniques for speaking in code, addressing at one or more removes what most mattered to them.”In their wordsCh. 1Read the whole statement

“Populism may look like an embrace of the have-nots, but in reality it is a form of cynical exploitation.”In their wordsCh. 3Read the whole statement

“Although insecurity, overconfidence, and murderous rage are strange bedfellows, they all coexist in the tyrant’s soul. He has servants and associates, but in effect he is alone.”In their wordsCh. 7Read the whole statement

“Shakespeare did not think that tyrants ever lasted for very long. However cunning they were in their rise, once in power they were surprisingly incompetent.”In their wordsCh. 9Read the whole statement

2016Holberg International Memorial PrizeAward2012Pulitzer Prize for General NonfictionAward2011“Ever since I was quite young I’ve been fascinated by the idea that something would hit you - not just that you would find something, but that something would find you.”In their words8 November 2011fullstop.netRead the whole statement

“Things change profoundly in the church after Luther. The church becomes much more embattled. It makes some attempts at internal reform.”In their words8 November 2011fullstop.netRead the whole statement

James Russell Lowell PrizeAwardNational Book AwardAwardNational Book Award for NonfictionAward2010Wilbur Cross MedalAward1988James Russell Lowell PrizeAward1982Guggenheim FellowshipAward1974Guggenheim FellowshipAward1943Born7 November 1943

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In their own words 4

Stephen Greenblatt

4 statements, newest first

Tyrannical power is more easily exercised when it appears that the old order continues to exist.
2018 · Ch. 7, Own words
It is extremely dangerous to have a state run by someone who governs by impulse.
2018 · Ch. 8, Own words
In Gilgamesh the human formed from clay is a wild man, with flowing hair (possibly all over his body) and the strength and manner of life of the animals.
2017 · The Rise and Fall of Adam and Eve (2017), ch. 3, Own words

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Awards

Knight Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany2025

Holberg International Memorial Prize2016

Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction2012

National Book Award2011

National Book Award for Nonfiction2011

James Russell Lowell Prize2011

Wilbur Cross Medal2010

James Russell Lowell Prize1988

Guggenheim Fellowship1982

Guggenheim Fellowship1974

Rome Prize

Fulbright Scholarship

Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts order

About this person

Greenblatt is the general editor of The Norton Shakespeare (2015) and the general editor and a contributor to The Norton Anthology of English Literature.

Country

United States