Adèle Ducanchez- Einsle

Please tell us about your research project

I'm doing a PhD in Comparative Literature and I'm focusing now on literary and archival work around figures and texts linked to French and European literature. I currently work on Christine de Pizan and Renée Vivien's metaphysical poetics. In Oxford, I am especially interested in consulting manuscripts held at the Bodleian Library, as well as a letter by Vivien preserved in the archives of Lord Alfred Douglas, which is connected to the poetess Olive Custance.

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

My exchange programme, La Bourse de Mobilité, gives me the opportunity to carry out research in Oxford in an exceptionally stimulating academic environment. It is a valuable period of mobility that supports my doctoral work by giving me access to resources, libraries, and scholarly exchange that are directly relevant to my project. What makes it especially meaningful is that it allows me to work in close connection with the intellectual life of the University while also building new academic contacts and broadening my perspective. For me, this is both a research opportunity and a chance to deepen my engagement with an international scholarly community.

First impressions of Oxford/the University?

My first impression of Oxford was that it is an extraordinary place where academic life is deeply woven into the city itself. I was immediately struck by the collegiate structure, the architecture, and the strong sense of beauty: Oxford feels like a place where scholarship is not only valued, but visibly present in everyday life. On a more personal level, Oxford has always held a very special place in my imagination: I have loved this city since I was a child, and I experience it as a kind of living poetry. There is a real emotional dimension to being here, because it feels both deeply familiar and profoundly inspiring. I am also looking forward to meeting local people and exchanging ideas about my projects, which I see as an important part of the experience.