Patrick O'Donovan
I work in French in University College Cork, having previously taught in the UK (latterly in Cambridge). I studied first in UCC, and then in Paris and Cambridge, where I did my Ph.D.
My interest in French is centred on modern and contemporary literature and thought. At present, the main project I’m working on is a book on Benjamin Constant, in which I argue that the scope of Constant’s highly influential conception of the freedom of the moderns is considerably wider than his reception to date implies. Alongside the freedom of the moderns, I argue that we need to assess the significance of the literature of the moderns, with which Constant can also be identified, on the basis in particular of the short novel, Adolphe, that he published in 1816. I provide some information on this and other work here.
2015–17: Head, College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences, University College Cork
1994– : Professor of French, University College Cork
1989-94: Official Fellow and Lecturer in French, King’s College, Cambridge, and Affiliated Lecturer, University of Cambridge
1987–89: Lecturer in French, St John’s College, Oxford
1986–87: Lecturer in French, University of Dundee
Ph.D. in French, University of Cambridge (1989)
M.A. in French, University College Cork (1980)
B.A. in English and French, University College Cork (1978)
Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Palmes académiques (2003)
Government of Ireland Research Fellowship (2002–03)
Robert Gardiner Memorial Scholarship, University of Cambridge (1981–84)
Travelling Studentship, National University of Ireland (1981–84)
Bourse du Gouvernement français, Université de Paris-Sorbonne (1978–79)
Postgraduate Scholarship, University College Cork (1978–80)
Undergraduate Scholarship, University College Cork (1976–78)
Member of the Board, European Alliance for the Social Sciences and the Humanities (2016–19)
Jury, R. Gapper Book Prize, Society for French Studies (2013–19)
Chairperson, Irish Humanities Alliance (2013–14)
Director, Comparing: an international summer school in the humanities (2011)
Expert, EU COST Domain Committee for Individuals, Societies, Cultures and Health (2006–10)
President, Association des études françaises et francophones en Irlande (2005–06)
Member, Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences (2004–08)
Member of the Advisory Board, Irish Journal of French Studies (2002– )
Editor, French Studies (1997–2007; member of the Advisory Board since 2007)
