This article is available to subscribers only.

June 19, 2019: [Pentagon][Harvard][Mohamed Morsi]

< Previous Article | Next Article >

Story — From the May 2019 issue

The Unexpected

By Joyce Carol Oates

Download Pdf

Read Online

Single Page

Print Page

“Thank you for the honor. I am very—honored.” You have been instructed to remove the clumsy black mortarboard at this point in the commencement ceremony. Now you incline your head so that a red ribbon bearing a brass medallion inscribed with the Latin phrase vincit omnia veritas can be looped around your neck. Then a royal-blue velvet doctoral hood with white satin trim is also lowered over your head and secured in place around your shoulders with a snap. A rotund little man identified as the president of the college congratulates you, shakes your hand vigorously. You are left alone

We hope you enjoyed your free monthly article! To read the full text of this story log in or subscribe now! Subscribers get access to the current issue and the entire 168-year archive of Harper’s Magazine for only $23.99 per year.

You are currently viewing this article as a guest. If you are a subscriber, please sign in. If you aren't, please subscribe below and get access to the entire Harper's archive for only $23.99/year.

= Subscribers only.
Sign in here.
Subscribe here.

Download Pdf

Single Page

Print Page

Joyce Carol Oates , author most recently of the novel Hazards of Time Travel, is the 2019 recipient of the Jerusalem Prize for Literature.

More from Joyce Carol Oates:

Story — From the October 2016 issue

The Quiet Car

Story — From the November 2013 issue

Lovely, Dark, Deep

Fiction — From the December 2011 issue

The good Samaritan

THE CURRENT ISSUE

July 2019

Ramblin’ Man

= Subscribers only.
Sign in here.
Subscribe here.

By Christopher Ketcham

“Just Keep Going North”

= Subscribers only.
Sign in here.
Subscribe here.

By William T. Vollmann

El Corralón

= Subscribers only.
Sign in here.
Subscribe here.

By Earl Shorris

Marmalade Sky

= Subscribers only.
Sign in here.
Subscribe here.

By Nell Zink

New Books

= Subscribers only.
Sign in here.
Subscribe here.

By Christopher Tayler

The Trials of Vasily Grossman

= Subscribers only.
Sign in here.
Subscribe here.

By Aaron Lake Smith

view Table Content

.cookies-disabled { position: fixed;left: 0;top: 0;width: 100%;height: 100%;z-index: 9999;background: #000;background: rgba(0,0,0,0.8); background: -webkit-radial-gradient(50% 50%, ellipse closest-corner, rgba(0,0,0,0.45) 1%, rgba(0,0,0,0.8) 100%);background: -moz-radial-gradient(50% 50%, ellipse closest-corner, rgba(0,0,0,0.45) 1%, rgba(0,0,0,0.8) 100%);background: -ms-radial-gradient(50% 50%, ellipse closest-corner, rgba(0,0,0,0.45) 1%, rgba(0,0,0,0.8) 100%);background: radial-gradient(50% 50%, ellipse closest-corner, rgba(0,0,0,0.45) 1%, rgba(0,0,0,0.8) 100%);filter: alpha(opacity = 80);}

Many features on this website require JavaScript.You can enable JavaScript via your browser preference settings.

The Unexpected

Ramblin’ Man = Subscribers only.Sign in here.Subscribe here.

“Just Keep Going North” = Subscribers only.Sign in here.Subscribe here.

El Corralón = Subscribers only.Sign in here.Subscribe here.

Marmalade Sky = Subscribers only.Sign in here.Subscribe here.

New Books = Subscribers only.Sign in here.Subscribe here.

The Trials of Vasily Grossman = Subscribers only.Sign in here.Subscribe here.