Mark Lee
Biography
While still a student Mark Lee worked in a lighthouse overlooking the Atlantic where he found time to discover the joy of reading French literature. Now as professor at 51勛圖app he teaches French language, literature and film, specializing in writers and filmmakers from the 1940s to the present. Especially interested in the art of writing, Dr. Lee has had the privilege to meet several of the authors he has studied. His PhD and first publications were on Nathalie Sarraute, Jean-Paul Sartre and the relationship between poetics and ethics, while his more recent research centres on questions of identity, erasure, the aesthetics of numbness and repetition in contemporary writers, notably Am矇lie Nothomb.
Dr. Lee was responsible for 51勛圖apps study abroad program at the Universit矇 de Strasbourg and initiated our participation in the Assistant danglais program where new graduates teach English for a year in France. He has directed numerous undergraduate honours theses at Mt. A, and served on MA and PhD thesis committees in France and Canada. He also reviews new fiction and critical works for a number of scholarly publications. Most recently, he co-organized an international conference in Paris on Nothomb with the University of Kent and Columbia University. His closing interview with Nothomb is viewable here:
Publications
Dr. Lee has published widely on the works of Nathalie Sarraute and Am矇lie Nothomb, as well as a number of other contemporary writers/filmmakers. He is a regular reviewer of new fiction for The French Review.
Books :
Mark D. Lee et Ana de Medeiros (dir.), Identit矇, m矇moire, lieux. Le pass矇, le pr矇sent et l'avenir d'Am矇lie Nothomb , Paris, Classiques Garnier, coll. 竄 Rencontres 罈, n簞 353, s矇rie 竄 Litt矇rature des XX e et XXI e si癡cles 罈 n簞 33, 2018. ISBN 978-2-406-07168-6, 34 . Argument: Cette collection d'矇tudes accompagn矇e d'un entretien met au jour la richesse et la complexit矇 d'une uvre populaire en l'abordant selon les axes de la m矇moire, du lieu et de l'identit矇. Un ouvrage important pour situer et comprendre Am矇lie Nothomb dans l'extr礙me contemporain.
Les Identit矇s dAm矇lie Nothomb : de linvention m矇diatique aux fantasmes originaires. (Amsterdam/ New York: Rodopi, 2010). 295pp
Articles and Book Chapters :
En bien ou en mal: Prisons, crise, Nathacha Appanah. Book chapter to be published in Redefining Womanhood: Agency, Voice and Identity in Francophone Womens Cultural Production. Eds. C. Verdier, A. Pugh, V. Desnain. (Peter Lang).
"At a remove: The Curious State(lessness) of Migrant Mothering in Novels by Shumona Sinha and Nathacha Appanah." Contemporary Women's Writing, v.8, n.2 (December 2024), 32-50. .
Crossing Boundaries External & Internal: The Writing Imaginary of Shumona Sinha. Crossways, v.2, n.1 (2019) .
"Erasure and Re-inscription: Representing Trauma in Am矇lie Nothomb". Journal of Literature and Trauma Studies , v.5, n.2 (2016): 75-86. (published in July 2018)"
S矇duction, transgression, reproduction: Am矇lie Nothomb et l'矇pistolaire" in Risques et Regrets: Les dangers de l'矇criture 矇pistolaire . Eds G. De Vivieros, M. Irvine, K. Schwerdtner. (Montr矇al, Nota Bene, 2015), 99-122.
"Re-viewing Varda's Le Bonheur (1964): Accident? Suicide? Or the Natural Order? That is the question". In Agn癡s Varda Unlimited: Image, Music, Media . Ed. Marie-Claire Barnet. (Oxford, Legenda, 2016), 87-95.
"D'Hiroshima Shibuya : Nothomb, Duras et les topiques de la fiction". In Le pass矇, le pr矇sent et le futur d'Am矇lie Nothomb . Eds. Mark Lee & Ana de Medeiros. Paris, Classiques Garnier, 2018. Pp. 25-34.
'Introduction'. In Le pass矇, le pr矇sent et le futur d'Am矇lie Nothomb . Eds. Mark Lee & Ana de Medeiros. Paris, Classiques Garnier, 2018. Pp. 7-11.
Am矇lie Nothomb est un homme dangereux in This Self Which Is Not One: Womens Life Writing in French. Eds Natalie Edwards, Christopher Hogarth. (Newcastle, Cambridge Scholars Press, 2010), 119-135.
Ltranger chez Am矇lie Nothomb in Francographies: Identit矇 et alt矇rit矇 dans les espaces francophones europ矇ens. Eds Susan Bainbrigge, Caroline Verdier, Joy Charnley (New York: Peter Lang, 2010), 193-203.
Ernaux, Breton, Nadja: Dis-moi qui tu hantes... in Annie Ernaux: Perspectives critiques. Sergio Villani, dir. (Toronto: Legas Publications, 2009), 159-166.
Les Langues de Nathalie Sarraute.&紳莉莽梯;Roman 20-50 (Winter, 2005): 91-111.
Am矇lie Nothomb: Writing Childhoods End, in Am矇lie Nothomb: Authorship, Identity and Narrative Practice. (New York: Peter Lang, 2003), 142-153.
Learning to Let Go: Kieslowskis Trois couleurs: Bleu.&紳莉莽梯;The French Review 76.1 (October, 2002): 90-97.
The Last Word: Deathbed Scenes in the Works of Nathalie Sarraute.&紳莉莽梯;LEsprit cr矇ateur XL,1 (Spring 2000): 47-57.
Lcriture et la vie: Nathalie Sarraute.&紳莉莽梯;Dalhousie French Studies 47 (Summer 1999): 143-154.
"Sarraute et la peinture: Judging a Book by its Cover". The French Review 71.4 (March, 1998): 585-597.
"Tropismes: le r矇el comme rythme de l'histoire". tudes litt矇raires 29.1 (t矇, 1996): 11-20.
"Tu ne t'aimes pas: Les voies de l'amour". Thirty Voices in the Feminine. (Atlanta: ditions Rodopi, 1996): 42-49.
"Nathalie Sarraute: Aesthetics and Asthenics". Women in French Studies (Fall, 1994): 102-110.
Publications: Review Essay:
Breaking Boundaries in Contemporary Womens Writing: From Disgust to Experiment and Experience, in Contemporary Womens Writing 10.1 (March, 2016): 136-140. doi: 10.1093/cww/vpv018. A peer-reviewed essay on Katie Jones, Representing Repulsion: The Aesthetics of Disgust in Contemporary Womens Writing in French and German. Oxford: Peter Lang, 2013, and Gill Rye and Amaleena Daml矇, Experiment and Experience Womens Writing in France 20002010. Oxford: Peter Lang, 2013
Publications: Literary Interviews:
Entretien avec Am矇lie Nothomb.&紳莉莽梯;The French Review 77.3 (February, 2004): 562-575.
'D'hier aujourd'hui. Entretien avec Am矇lie Nothomb'. In Le pass矇, le pr矇sent et le futur d'Am矇lie Nothomb . Eds. Mark Lee & Ana de Medeiros. Paris, Classiques Garnier, 2018. Pp. 233-250.
Publications: Critical Reviews:
Sarabandes X, a novel by Corentin Durand. Forthcoming in The French Review.
L'impossible retour, a work by Am矇lie Nothomb. Forthcoming in The French Review.
Les rives de la mer Douce, a work by Laura Alcoba. Forthcoming in The French Review.
Ce que je sais de toi, a novel by ric Chacour. The French Review 98.1 (October 2024): 130.
La m矇moire d矇lav矇e, a work by Nathacha Appanah. The French Review 97.4 (May 2024): 125-126.
Psychopompe, a novel by Am矇lie Nothomb. The French Review 97.3 (March 2024): 144.
Quatre-vingt-quinze, a novel by Philippe Joanny. The French Review 97.2 (December 2023): 175.
Lautre nom du bonheur 矇tait fran癟ais, a work by Shumona Sinha. Forthcoming in The French Review.
Lhomme qui danse, a novel by Victor Jestin. The French Review 97.1 (October 2023): 241.
Le Livre des surs, a novel by Am矇lie Nothomb. The French Review 96,4 (May 2023): 245.
La plus secr癡te m矇moire des hommes, a novel by Mohamed Mbougar Sarr. The French Review 96.3 (March 2023): 238.
Rien ne tappartient, a novel by Nathacha Appanah. The French Review 96.1 (December 2022): 200-201.
La vie des morts, a novel by Jean-Marie Laclavetine. The French Review 96.1 (October 2022): 241.
Premier sang, a novel by Am矇lie Nothomb. The French Review 95.4 (May 2022): 257.
M礙me les anges, a novel by Christ癡le Wurmser. The French Review 95.3 (March 2022): 263.
郭a鳥勳, a novel by Tiffany Tavernier. The French Review 95.2 (December 2021): 273.
Le Testament russe, a novel by Shumona Sinha. The French Review. 94.4 (May 2021): 244.
Soif, a novel by Am矇lie Nothomb. The French Review. 94. 2 (October 2020): 263-264.
La nuit ne dure pas, a novel by Jules Gassot. The French Review. 93. 4 (May 2020): 243-244.
Une ann矇e lumi癡re, a collection of essays by Nathacha Appanah. The French Review. 93, 2 (December 2019): 210-211.
LIntertextualit矇 dans l矇criture de Nathalie Sarraute, a critical work by Rainier Rocchi. Modern Language Review, v114. 3 (July 2019): 571-572.
Le livre dAmray, a novel by Yahia Belaskri. The French Review. 92, 4 (May 2019): 229-230.
Les visages pales, a novel by Solonge Bied-Charreton. The French Review. 92, 1 (October 2018): 201.
Frappe-toi le coeur , a novel by Am矇lie Nothomb. The French Review. 91.4 (May 2018): 217.
Apatride , a novel by Shumona Sinha. The French Review. 91.3 (March 2018): 253.
Chanson douce , a novel by Le簿la Slimani. The French Review. 91.2 (December 2017): 265-266.
L'Astronome dur cuire , a novel by Jonathan Ruel. The French Review. 91.1 (October 2017): 276.
Riquet la houppe , a novel by Am矇lie Nothomb. The French Review. 90.4 (May 2017): 282.
Vie et uvre de Constantin Erod , a novel by Julien Donadille. The French Review. 90.3 (March 2017): 203-204.
Nouvel an chinois , a novel by Koffi Kwahul矇. The French Review. 89, 4 (May 2016): 261-262
La route de Beit Zera, a novel by Hubert Mingarelli. The French Review. 89, 3 (March 2016): 274-275
捩矇喧娶棗紳勳梭梭梗, a novel by Am矇lie Nothomb. The French Review. 89,2 (December 2015): 278-279.
Calcutta, a novel by Shumona Sinha. The French Review. 89,1 (October 2015): 209-210.
Regarde les lumi癡res mon amour, a work by Annie Ernaux. The French Review. 88,4 (May 2015): 220.
Le D矇samour, a novel by Antonia Kerr. The French Review. 88,2 (December 2014): 267-268.
Le roman de Boddah, a novel by H矇lo簿se Guay de Bellissen. The French Review. 88,1 (October 2014): 267-268.
La nostalgie heureuse, a novel by Am矇lie Nothomb.The French Review. 87, 4 (May 2014): 264-265.
La premi癡re chose quon regarde, a novel by Gr矇goire Delacourt. The French Review. 87,3 (March 2014): 200.
Je vais mieux, a novel by David Foenkinos. The French Review. 87,2. (December 2013): 272-273.
Subjects Not-at-home:Forms of the Uncanny in the Contemporary French Novel, A critical study by Daisy Connon. Dalhousie French Studies. v.99 (Summer 2012):128-129.
LHerbe des nuits, a novel by Patrick Modiano. The French Review 87,1 (October 2013): 275.
Barbe bleue and Les Myrtilles, two works by Am矇lie Nothomb. The French Review. 86, 5 (May 2013): 1295-1296.
LArt fran癟ais de la guerre, a novel by Alexis Jenni. The French Review. 86,4 (March 2013): 790-791
Des vies doiseaux, a novel by V矇ronique Olvad矇. The French Review. 86,3 (February 2013): 610-611.
Tuer le p癡re, a novel by Am矇lie Nothomb. The French Review. 86,2 (November 2012): 425-426.
LAutre fille, a work by Annie Ernaux. The French Review. 86,1 (October 2012): 218.
Le Sel, a novel by Jean-Baptiste Del Amo. The French Review. 85 5 (April 2012):983-984.
Des fleurs pour Zo禱, a novel by Antonia Kerr. The French Review. 85, 4 (March 2012): 788-789.
Crime damour, a film by Alain Corneau. The French Review. 85, 2 (December 2011): 371-372.
Une Forme de vie,a novel by Am矇lie Nothomb. The French Review. 85, 2 (December 2011): 404.
郭A娶紳硃釵棗梗喝娶, a film by Pascal Chaumeil. The French Review. 84, 6 (May 2011):1302-1303.
Le Premier amour, a novel by V矇ronique Olmi. The French Review. 84, 6 (May 2011): 1339-1340.
Un Roman fran癟ais,a novel by Fr矇d矇ric Beigbeder. The French Review. 84, 4 (March, 2011): 846-847.
Le Voyage d'hiver, a novel by Am矇lie Nothomb. The French Review. 84, 3 (February, 2011): 619-620.
La Fianc矇e juive, a novel by Jean Rouaud. The French Review. 83,3 (February,2010): 682-683.
Le Fait du prince, a novel by Am矇lie Nothomb. The French Review 83, 2 (December, 2009): 450-451.
Jean-Pierre Jeunet, a critical work by Elizabeth Ezra. The French Review. 82, 4 (March, 2009): 894-895.
La Chaussure sur le toit, a novel by Vincent Delecroix. The French Review. 82, 4 (March, 2009): 863-864.
Ni dve ni dAdam, a novel by Am矇lie Nothomb. The French Review. 82, 3 February, 2009): 671-672.
Journal dHirondelle, a novel by Am矇lie Nothomb. The French Review. 81, 6 (May, 2008): 1309-10.
C.R.A.Z.Y., a film by Jean-Marc Vall矇e. The French Review. 81, 1 (October, 2007): 210-211.
Rois et Reine, a film by Arnaud Desplechin. The French Review. 80, 5 (April, 2007): 1135-1136.
LUsage de la photo, a work by Annie Ernaux and Marc Marie. The French Review. 80, 5 (April, 2007): 1157-1158
Acide sulfurique, a novel by Am矇lie Nothomb .The French Review. 80, 3 (February, 2007): 730-731.
Un Pedigree, a work by Patrick Modiano. The French Review. 80, 2 (December, 2006): 494-495.
5 x 2, a film by Fran癟ois Ozon. The French Review. 79, 4 (March, 2006): 847.
Biographie de la faim and LEntr矇e du Christ Bruxelles, two works by Am矇lie Nothomb. The French Review. 79, 3 (February, 2006): 669-671.
Am矇lie Nothomb: Lternelle affam矇e, a critical work by Laureline Amanieux. Dalhousie French Studies. 73 (Winter, 2005): 164-165.
Swimming Pool, a film by Fran癟ois Ozon. The French Review. 78, 3 (February, 2005): 593-594.
Paths to Contemporary French Literature, a critical work by John Taylor. Symposium. 58.4 (Winter 2005): 271-272.
Soudain le Minotaure, a novel by Marie-H矇l癡ne Poitras. The French Review. 78, 2 (December, 2004): 410.
tre et avoir, a film by Nicholas Philibert. The French Review. 78,1 (October, 2004): 174-175.
插紳喧矇釵堯娶勳莽喧硃, a novel by Am矇lie Nothomb. The French Review. 78,1 (October, 2004): 200-201.
ce soir, a work by Laure Adler. The French Review. 77, 6 (May, 2004): 1272-1273.
Robert des noms propres, a novel by Am矇lie Nothomb. The French Review. 77, 5. (April, 2004): 1013-1014.
郭O釵釵喝梯硃喧勳棗紳, a work by Annie Ernaux. The French Review. 77, 4 (March 2004): 817-818.
8 femmes, a film by Fran癟ois Ozon. The French Review. 77, 3 (February, 2004): 602-603.
Le Fond de lair est rouge, a film by Chris Marker. The French Review. 76, 6 (December, 2003): 392-393.
Loin, a film by Andr矇 T矇chin矇: The French Review. 76, 6 (May, 2003): 1285-86.
Le Fabuleux destin dAm矇lie Poulin, a film by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. The French Review. 76, 5 (April, 2003): 1061-1062.
Cosm矇tique de lennemi, a novel by Am矇lie Nothomb. The French Review. 76, 1 (October, 2002): 156-157.
La Vie r礙v矇e des anges, a film by by Erick Zonca. The French Review. 75, 6 (May, 2002): 1332-1333.
M矇taphysique des tubes a novel by Am矇lie Nothomb. The French Review. 75, 5 (April, 2002): 1006-1007.
Bleu: Histoire dune couleur, a critical work by Michel Pastoureau. Dalhousie French Studies. 57 (Winter 2002): 151.
Nathalie Sarraute, Fiction and Theory, Questions of Difference: a critical work by Ann Jefferson. Dalhousie French Studies. 55 (Summer 2001): 197-198.
Lv矇nement et La Vie ext矇rieure, two autobiographical works Annie Ernaux. The French Review. 74, 6 (May 2001): 1276-1278.
Journal dun coeur sec, a novel by Mathieu Terence. The French Review. 74, 5 (April, 2001):1056-1057.
Chacun cherche son chat, a film by C矇dric Klapisch. The French Review. 74, 3 (February 2001): 617-618.
New Novel, New Wave, New Politics: Fiction and the Representation of History in Postwar France, a critical work by Lynn Higgins. Dalhousie French Studies. 51 (Summer 2000): 205-206.
Education
Ph.D. in French Literature, Emory University
Research semesters at EHESS, ENS, Jussieu, Paris.
M.A. in French Literature, Johns Hopkins University
B.A. (Hon) in French, Memorial University of Newfoundland
Teaching
Areas of expertise are XXth and XXIst century French Literature. Dr. Lee also teaches French film and French language.
Research
New French fiction, Women writers, Notions of haunting, Writing the sublime, Constructions or Dissolution of Identity and the Epistolary.
With the University of Kent (UK) and Columbia University in Paris, Dr. Lee organized the international conference Identity, Memory, Place: Am矇lie Nothomb: Past, Present and Future at Reid Hall, Paris (May 2014).
Grants, awards & honours
J.E.A. Crake Teaching Award in the Faculty of Arts
Paul Par矇 Excellence Award
Clement and Florence Avard Chair in French.