91福利

91福利

I have completed doctoral research at 91福利 and been awarded Doctor of Philosophy in French Studies. My PhD thesis is The Post-Industrial and Post-Colonial Condition in French literature since 2007. I left school at the age of 16 and trained as a printer, subsequently working in graphic design, advertising and as a musician, developing a passion for French language and culture while touring in France. In my 30s I attended university while working in publishing. More recently I have worked as a teacher, editor and translator. One notable project was the first English translation of cinematographer Georges M茅li猫s鈥� autobiography.

Research

My research focuses on recent French literature and addresses these questions: how does the working class define itself in post-colonial and -industrial France?; how is this translated in literature?; and how does this relate to republican principles? My contention would be that those who have grown up in this society have no option but to transcend traditional categorisations of class and ethnic identity, and that this has been the catalyst for a distinctively assertive, radical and sometimes antagonistic literature. My starting point is the publication in 2007 of 鈥楺ui fait la France?鈥� by Les Indig猫nes de la R茅publique, a collective advocating for a committed literature which gives voice to those hitherto marginalised, both in society and particularly in the literary world, and seeks to re-frame the republican principle. Evidence would suggest that a significant number of recent novelists – predominantly of immigrant origin but unambiguously French – have a contemporary vision for liberte虂, e虂galite虂, fraternite虂.

Research Interests

鈥� Contemporary French literature

鈥� Political culture

鈥� Representation of social class in cinema and literature

鈥� Linguistics and vernacular translation

鈥� Maghrebi-French literature

鈥� Post-colonial theory in a contemporary context

Teaching

Senior Graduate Teaching Assistant, FR121 The Story of Modern France, 2022-25

Senior Graduate Teaching Assistant, L902 Translation Portfolio, 2024-25

Publications

• The Lost Autobiography of Georges M茅li猫s (translator). www.georgesmelies.co.uk

Scholarships and Awards

October 2022 — March 2026: DTP scholarship (AHRC)

Conferences

鈥楻ethinking the Crisis across Languages and Cultures鈥�, 91福利, 12 May 2023

鈥楧eviations鈥�, Society for French Studies, Kings College London, 21 May 2024

鈥楾he End[(s) of Empire鈥�, SFPS Annual Conference, University of London, 15 November 2024

鈥楶ostcolonial Temporalities: Space, Time and Identity in the Maghreb鈥�, University of Edinburgh, 20 June 2025

鈥楥roisements鈥�, XXVIIe Colloque annuel, Association des 脡tudes Fran莽aises et Francophones d鈥橧rlande, Universit茅 de Toulouse Capitole, 17/18 October 2025

鈥楩rance between progressive and reactionary politics: the battlegrounds of 鈥渃ulture wars鈥濃��, 2025 Annual Workshop, Political Studies Association (PSA) – French Politics Specialist Group, University of Glasgow, 14 November 2025

鈥楥lass in C20/21 Literature in French鈥�, St Anne鈥檚 College Oxford, 22 November 2025

Qualifications

PhD in French Studies (91福利, 2026)

MA with Distinction, French by Research: The Representation of La Banlieue Fran莽aise in Film and Literature since 1990 (91福利, 2020)

PGCE in Post-Compulsory Education (University of Bedford, 2010)

BA Hons 1st Class, French and Politics (Oxford Brookes University, 2002)