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 绿帽社区 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茅lie Nothomb.
Dr. Lee was responsible for 绿帽社区鈥檚 study abroad program at the Universit茅 de Strasbourg and initiated our participation in the Assistant d鈥檃nglais 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茅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茅, m茅moire, lieux. Le pass茅, le pr茅sent et l'avenir d'Am茅lie Nothomb , Paris, Classiques Garnier, coll. 芦 Rencontres 禄, n掳 353, s茅rie 芦 Litt茅rature des XX e et XXI e si猫cles 禄 n掳 33, 2018. ISBN 978-2-406-07168-6, 34 鈧. Argument: Cette collection d'茅tudes accompagn茅e d'un entretien met au jour la richesse et la complexit茅 d'une 艙uvre populaire en l'abordant selon les axes de la m茅moire, du lieu et de l'identit茅. Un ouvrage important pour situer et comprendre Am茅lie Nothomb dans l'extr锚me contemporain.
Les Identit茅s d鈥橝m茅lie Nothomb : de l鈥檌nvention m茅diatique aux fantasmes originaires. (Amsterdam/ New York: Rodopi, 2010). 295pp
Articles and Book Chapters :
"The Curious State(lessness) of Mothering: Sinha, Appanah and the Migrant Woman," accepted for publication in Contemporary Women's Writing (Oxford University Press).
鈥淐rossing Boundaries External & Internal: The Writing Imaginary of Shumona Sinha鈥. Crossways, v.2, n.1 (2019) .
"Erasure and Re-inscription: Representing Trauma in Am茅lie Nothomb". Journal of Literature and Trauma Studies , v.5, n.2 (2016): 75-86. (published in July 2018)"
S茅duction, transgression, reproduction: Am茅lie Nothomb et l'茅pistolaire" in Risques et Regrets: Les dangers de l'茅criture 茅pistolaire . Eds G. De Vivieros, M. Irvine, K. Schwerdtner. (Montr茅al, Nota Bene, 2015), 99-122.
"Re-viewing Varda's Le Bonheur (1964): Accident? Suicide? Or the Natural Order? That is the question". Book chapter to be published in Agn猫s Varda Unlimited: Image, Music, Media . Ed. Marie-Claire Barnet. (Oxford, Legenda, 2016), 87-95.
"D'Hiroshima 脿 Shibuya : Nothomb, Duras et les topiques de la fiction". In Le pass茅, le pr茅sent et le futur d'Am茅lie Nothomb . Eds. Mark Lee & Ana de Medeiros. Paris, Classiques Garnier, 2018. Pp. 25-34.
'Introduction'. In Le pass茅, le pr茅sent et le futur d'Am茅lie Nothomb . Eds. Mark Lee & Ana de Medeiros. Paris, Classiques Garnier, 2018. Pp. 7-11.
鈥淎m茅lie Nothomb est un homme dangereux鈥 in This 鈥楽elf鈥 Which Is Not One: Women鈥檚 Life Writing in French. Eds Natalie Edwards, Christopher Hogarth. (Newcastle, Cambridge Scholars Press, 2010), 119-135.
鈥淟鈥櫭塼ranger chez Am茅lie Nothomb鈥 in Francographies: Identit茅 et alt茅rit茅 dans les espaces francophones europ茅ens. Eds Susan Bainbrigge, Caroline Verdier, Joy Charnley (New York: Peter Lang, 2010), 193-203.
鈥淓rnaux, Breton, Nadja: Dis-moi qui tu hantes... 鈥 in Annie Ernaux: Perspectives critiques. Sergio Villani, dir. (Toronto: Legas Publications, 2009), 159-166.
鈥淟es Langues de Nathalie Sarraute鈥.&苍产蝉辫;Roman 20-50 (Winter, 2005): 91-111.
鈥淎m茅lie Nothomb: Writing Childhood鈥檚 End,鈥 in Am茅lie Nothomb: Authorship, Identity and Narrative Practice. (New York: Peter Lang, 2003), 142-153.
鈥淟earning to Let Go: Kieslowski鈥檚 Trois couleurs: Bleu鈥.&苍产蝉辫;The French Review 76.1 (October, 2002): 90-97.
鈥淭he Last Word: Deathbed Scenes in the Works of Nathalie Sarraute鈥.&苍产蝉辫;L鈥橢sprit cr茅ateur XL,1 (Spring 2000): 47-57.
鈥淟鈥櫭塩riture et la vie: Nathalie Sarraute鈥.&苍产蝉辫;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茅el comme rythme de l'histoire". 脡tudes litt茅raires 29.1 (脡t茅, 1996): 11-20.
"Tu ne t'aimes pas: Les voies de l'amour". Thirty Voices in the Feminine. (Atlanta: 脡ditions Rodopi, 1996): 42-49.
"Nathalie Sarraute: Aesthetics and Asthenics". Women in French Studies (Fall, 1994): 102-110.
Publications: Review Essay:
鈥淏reaking Boundaries in Contemporary Women鈥檚 Writing: From Disgust to Experiment and Experience鈥, in Contemporary Women鈥檚 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 Women鈥檚 Writing in French and German. Oxford: Peter Lang, 2013, and Gill Rye and Amaleena Daml茅, Experiment and Experience Women鈥檚 Writing in France 2000鈥2010. Oxford: Peter Lang, 2013
Publications: Literary Interviews:
鈥淓ntretien avec Am茅lie Nothomb鈥.&苍产蝉辫;The French Review 77.3 (February, 2004): 562-575.
'D'hier 脿 aujourd'hui. Entretien avec Am茅lie Nothomb'. In Le pass茅, le pr茅sent et le futur d'Am茅lie Nothomb . Eds. Mark Lee & Ana de Medeiros. Paris, Classiques Garnier, 2018. Pp. 233-250.
Publications: Critical Reviews:
Ce que je sais de toi, a novel by 脡ric Chacour. Forthcoming in The French Review.
La m茅moire d茅lav茅e, a work by Nathacha Appanah. Forthcoming in The French Review.
Psychopompe, a novel by Am茅lie Nothomb. Forthcoming in The French Review.
Quatre-vingt-quinze, a novel by Philippe Joanny. The French Review 97.2 (December 2023): 175.
L鈥檃utre nom du bonheur 茅tait fran莽ais, a work by Shumona Sinha. Forthcoming in The French Review.
L鈥檋omme qui danse, a novel by Victor Jestin. The French Review 97.1 (October 2023): 241.
Le Livre des s艙urs, a novel by Am茅lie Nothomb. The French Review 96,4 (May 2023): 245.
La plus secr猫te m茅moire des hommes, a novel by Mohamed Mbougar Sarr. The French Review 96.3 (March 2023): 238.
Rien ne t鈥檃ppartient, 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茅lie Nothomb. The French Review 95.4 (May 2022): 257.
M锚me les anges, a novel by Christ猫le Wurmser. The French Review 95.3 (March 2022): 263.
尝鈥檃尘颈, 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茅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茅e lumi猫re, a collection of essays by Nathacha Appanah. The French Review. 93, 2 (December 2019): 210-211.
L鈥橧ntertextualit茅 dans l鈥櫭ヽriture de Nathalie Sarraute, a critical work by Rainier Rocchi. Modern Language Review, v114. 3 (July 2019): 571-572.
Le livre d鈥橝mray, 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茅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茂la Slimani. The French Review. 91.2 (December 2017): 265-266.
L'Astronome dur 脿 cuire , a novel by Jonathan Ruel. The French Review. 91.1 (October 2017): 276.
Riquet 脿 la houppe , a novel by Am茅lie Nothomb. The French Review. 90.4 (May 2017): 282.
Vie et 艙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茅. 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
笔茅迟谤辞苍颈濒濒别, a novel by Am茅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猫res mon amour, a work by Annie Ernaux. The French Review. 88,4 (May 2015): 220.
Le D茅samour, a novel by Antonia Kerr. The French Review. 88,2 (December 2014): 267-268.
Le roman de Boddah, a novel by H茅lo茂se Guay de Bellissen. The French Review. 88,1 (October 2014): 267-268.
La nostalgie heureuse, a novel by Am茅lie Nothomb.The French Review. 87, 4 (May 2014): 264-265.
La premi猫re chose qu鈥檕n regarde, a novel by Gr茅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.
L鈥橦erbe des nuits, a novel by Patrick Modiano. The French Review 87,1 (October 2013): 275.
Barbe bleue and Les Myrtilles, two works by Am茅lie Nothomb. The French Review. 86, 5 (May 2013): 1295-1296.
L鈥橝rt fran莽ais de la guerre, a novel by Alexis Jenni. The French Review. 86,4 (March 2013): 790-791
Des vies d鈥檕iseaux, a novel by V茅ronique Olvad茅. The French Review. 86,3 (February 2013): 610-611.
Tuer le p猫re, a novel by Am茅lie Nothomb. The French Review. 86,2 (November 2012): 425-426.
L鈥橝utre 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毛, a novel by Antonia Kerr. The French Review. 85, 4 (March 2012): 788-789.
Crime d鈥檃mour, a film by Alain Corneau. The French Review. 85, 2 (December 2011): 371-372.
Une Forme de vie,a novel by Am茅lie Nothomb. The French Review. 85, 2 (December 2011): 404.
尝鈥橝谤苍补肠辞别耻谤, a film by Pascal Chaumeil. The French Review. 84, 6 (May 2011):1302-1303.
Le Premier amour, a novel by V茅ronique Olmi. The French Review. 84, 6 (May 2011): 1339-1340.
Un Roman fran莽ais,a novel by Fr茅d茅ric Beigbeder. The French Review. 84, 4 (March, 2011): 846-847.
Le Voyage d'hiver, a novel by Am茅lie Nothomb. The French Review. 84, 3 (February, 2011): 619-620.
La Fianc茅e juive, a novel by Jean Rouaud. The French Review. 83,3 (February,2010): 682-683.
Le Fait du prince, a novel by Am茅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 d鈥櫭坴e ni d鈥橝dam, a novel by Am茅lie Nothomb. The French Review. 82, 3 February, 2009): 671-672.
Journal d鈥橦irondelle, a novel by Am茅lie Nothomb. The French Review. 81, 6 (May, 2008): 1309-10.
C.R.A.Z.Y., a film by Jean-Marc Vall茅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.
L鈥橴sage 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茅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莽ois Ozon. The French Review. 79, 4 (March, 2006): 847.
Biographie de la faim and L鈥橢ntr茅e du Christ 脿 Bruxelles, two works by Am茅lie Nothomb. The French Review. 79, 3 (February, 2006): 669-671.
Am茅lie Nothomb: L鈥櫭塼ernelle affam茅e, a critical work by Laureline Amanieux. Dalhousie French Studies. 73 (Winter, 2005): 164-165.
Swimming Pool, a film by Fran莽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茅l猫ne Poitras. The French Review. 78, 2 (December, 2004): 410.
脢tre et avoir, a film by Nicholas Philibert. The French Review. 78,1 (October, 2004): 174-175.
础苍迟茅肠丑谤颈蝉迟补, a novel by Am茅lie Nothomb. The French Review. 78,1 (October, 2004): 200-201.
脌 ce soir, a work by Laure Adler. The French Review. 77, 6 (May, 2004): 1272-1273.
Robert des noms propres, a novel by Am茅lie Nothomb. The French Review. 77, 5. (April, 2004): 1013-1014.
尝鈥橭肠肠耻辫补迟颈辞苍, a work by Annie Ernaux. The French Review. 77, 4 (March 2004): 817-818.
8 femmes, a film by Fran莽ois Ozon. The French Review. 77, 3 (February, 2004): 602-603.
Le Fond de l鈥檃ir est rouge, a film by Chris Marker. The French Review. 76, 6 (December, 2003): 392-393.
Loin, a film by Andr茅 T茅chin茅: The French Review. 76, 6 (May, 2003): 1285-86.
Le Fabuleux destin d鈥橝m茅lie Poulin, a film by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. The French Review. 76, 5 (April, 2003): 1061-1062.
Cosm茅tique de l鈥檈nnemi, a novel by Am茅lie Nothomb. The French Review. 76, 1 (October, 2002): 156-157.
La Vie r锚v茅e des anges, a film by by Erick Zonca. The French Review. 75, 6 (May, 2002): 1332-1333.
M茅taphysique des tubes a novel by Am茅lie Nothomb. The French Review. 75, 5 (April, 2002): 1006-1007.
Bleu: Histoire d鈥檜ne 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.
L鈥櫭塿茅nement et La Vie ext茅rieure, two autobiographical works Annie Ernaux. The French Review. 74, 6 (May 2001): 1276-1278.
Journal d鈥檜n coeur sec, a novel by Mathieu Terence. The French Review. 74, 5 (April, 2001):1056-1057.
Chacun cherche son chat, a film by C茅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.
Courses for 2021-2022: French 1701, 1711, 2501, 3621, 4001.
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 鈥淚dentity, Memory, Place: Am茅lie Nothomb: Past, Present and Future鈥 at Reid Hall, Paris (May 2014).
Grants, awards & honours
J.E.A. Crake Teaching Award in the Faculty of Arts
Paul Par茅 Excellence Award
Clement and Florence Avard Chair in French.