Herman Paul is Professor of the History of the Humanities at Leiden University, The Netherlands.
Globally, the Humanities are in trouble and only a thorough grasp of their history can give us the knowledge we need to deal with the situation. That's why this timely book is, beyond all hype, so exciting and rewarding. Herman Paul's exhilarating introduction establishes the terms for a comprehensive historical understanding of the humanities and the essays that he has chosen illuminate not just the past but the present too. Essential reading. * Simon During, Professor of English, University of Melbourne, Australia *