Humanities

Geoffrey Scarre on an insightful, reasoned look at the human capacity to offer and accept apologies

Stephen Gundle on the tales a beloved wooden puppet has to tell about his creator's country

University defends embassy's A$100,000 donation to Islamic research unit. John Gill reports

Chief executive Philip Esler to advise a refocusing on collaborative research. Zoe Corbyn reports

What price victory? Huw Dixon weighs the odds

The emphasis on learning outcomes and benchmarks in the context of English literature is little more than a straitjacket that stifles the originality and creativity of both author and student critic, argues Derek Attridge

Torture cannot be justified, says Philippe Sands, an academic and barrister who has traced how the US came to sanction the practice after 9/11. It doesn't work and it costs us dearly, he tells Matthew Reisz

Christopher Eyre on an attempt to enliven a history of the pharaonic era with an ordinary girl's life story

New AHRC deputy is keen to avoid past errors and to engage scholars in planning ahead, says Zoe Corbyn

If we want to find the significance of bluestones to Neolithic society, the Stonehenge diggers should look up, not down, says Lionel Sims

The author speaks of product placement, 'role model' Katie Price and feminism. Melanie Newman reports

Catherine Belsey writes on the futility of war

A review of euthanasia and end-of-life issues may help to spur legislative change, says Julie Stone

What is it about crime and universities? As the film of The Oxford Murders premieres, Matthew Reisz probes a world of professor-sleuths, philosophical riddles and the academics who are hooked on them

Funding changes rescheduled to give more time to pilot new metrics-based system, writes Zoe Corbyn

Simon Blackburn revels in a trawl through our rich and varied tradition of ad hominem attacks

A thinker who had no truck with biography is well served by this moving portrait, says Chris Thornhill

June Purvis on the mother of all resources

Academics aren't trained for it and often can't cope with it, yet many find themselves counselling students at risk of emotional breakdown and even suicide. Esther Oxford talks to lecturers who have been affected

Universities want eye-catching iconic buildings that capture the spirit of academic endeavour, involve the community and aid recruitment. Esther Oxford surveys the results, from glass walls to grass roofs