Camille Lefoul

Please tell us about your research project.

I am currently pursuing a PhD in Comparative Literature at the University of Western Brittany (Université de Bretagne Occidentale) under the supervision of Professor Véronique Léonard-Roques. Now in the third year of my doctorate, my research focuses on seven nineteenth-century French and British writers: Émile Souvestre, George Sand, Flora Tristan, Elizabeth Gaskell, George Eliot, Harriet Martineau, and William Morris.
My thesis examines the transition from Romanticism to Realism in the context of early industrialisation, exploring how technological and social transformations influenced both literature and society. Through the analysis of a vast corpus of texts, including tales, industrial novels, and social investigations, I compare French and British perspectives on these changes, highlighting both convergences and divergences. My work also engages with several critical approaches, including ecocriticism, feminist studies, and literary history.

Could you please tell us a bit more about your scholarship/exchange programme?

I had the chance to receive a mobility grant co-funded by my research centre, the Centre for Breton and Celtic Research (CRBC), which has enabled me to spend one month at the Maison Française d'Oxford. During my stay, my main objective is to consult the Bodleian Libraries' collections relating to the British authors in my corpus. I hope that access to these archival resources and the extensive body of critical scholarship will deepen my understanding of their works and their literary contexts. I also plan to visit William Morris's Red House and make use of the rich resources available there on his life and work.

First impressions of Oxford/the University?

Oxford is a truly beautiful city, with its remarkable architecture, picturesque canals, and abundant green spaces. The richness of its cultural and intellectual heritage is immediately striking. It is an inspiring place to study, do research, and exchange ideas. The Maison Française d'Oxford provides an exceptionally peaceful and welcoming environment for academic work, and I feel very fortunate and genuinely delighted to be here.