Valéry Studies
————
University of Newcastle upon Tyne
www.paulvalery.org

Research Topics

The context of Valéry Studies at the University of Newcastle and the expertise in Modern French Literary and Cultural Studies and Translation Studies across the School of Modern Languages offer opportunities for research in a wide range of possible topics.

The private library of Paul Valéry offers material for a number of research projects into aspects of Valéry's reading and the way that these interact with his own writing: e.g.

- his reading of fiction (previously thought to be very scant);

- the major influence of the scientific books;

- philosophy and religion;

- the reader, the writer and the text;

- Valéry and art

The Cahiers / Notebooks continue to fascinate the researcher with the wealth of material available and the very modern approach to interdisciplinary work, as well as the intriguing fragmentary ever-unfinished nature of the writing itself. Topics are available on a wide range of matters (see the web-page on the Cahiers/Notebooks) and with the English translation, comparative topics become available for scholars working from other disciplines apart from French.

Manuscript Studies offer research possibilities in areas that have been less explored in the UK than they have in France. The close connections between French at Newcastle and ITEM in Paris means that projects can be supervised taking account of the most recent developments in genetic criticism. Residence in both countries is permissible, which opens up the possibility of research among the manuscripts available in Paris while working towards an MPhil / PhD in a UK university.

Research proposal are welcomed not only in Valéry Studies but in a range of 20thC writers (Colette, Duras, Beckett etc.) For a list of available manuscripts consult the catalogue of the BnF, but also that of IMEC (www.imec-archives.com).

Translation Studies. In addition to the translation project on Valéry, the School of Modern Languages has a strong interest in Translation Studies both in European and East Asian Languages.

Consult : http://www.ncl.ac.uk/sml/T&I/index.php

Courses are available at all levels from  taught MA,  to MLitt, MPhil and PhD and targeted research training is provided for each, encompassing both practical and theoretical matters.

Research proposals are welcomed in this area, including the annotated translation of a text with full commentary and analysis (consult the Cahiers/Notebooks of Paul Valéry for further guidance).

www.paulvalery.org
Updated April 2003
Contact webmaster