Oxford academics honoured by French government
22 Jul 09
Professor Patrick McGuinness of the French sub-faculty has been honoured with a prestigious award from the French government.
The Fellow and Tutor in French at St Anne's was named Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques, an honour given to writers and academics for services to French culture. He said he was 'delighted and honoured to receive this award'.
Professor Elizabeth Fallaize, who retired last year as Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education), was also promoted from Officier, which she was awarded in 2000, to Commandeur in this set of honours.
Professor McGuinness specialises in modern French literature, particularly in French poetry. As well as academic books on French literature, he has written two books of poetry and has a third one coming out next year.
He is currently on leave with a Leverhulme fellowship working on a book on French poetry and politics in the late 19th century.
Professor Michael SheringhamFollowing our outstanding success in the RAE, where the French sub-faculty was ranked top in the country, this is further evidence of the excellence of French at Oxford.
The Ordre des Palmes Academiques was originally created by Napoleon to honour eminent members of the University of Paris. It was widened to include major contributions to the French national system and French nationals outside of France who had made major contributions to the expansion of French culture in the rest of the world. It was then re-established in 1955 and is one of the world’s oldest civil awards. Decisions on nomination and promotion are made by the Minister of Education.
Their honours follow a string of colleagues in the French sub-faculty to also receive this award, most recently Dr Richard Scholar of Oriel College and Dr Tony Hunt of St Peter’s who were both honoured earlier this year.
And the award comes in the same week that Roger Pearson, Professor of French and Fellow and Praelector, The Queen's College, became a Fellow of the British Academy.
Faculty Board Chair of Medieval and Modern Languages, Professor Michael Sheringham, said: 'Following our outstanding success in the RAE, where the French sub-faculty was ranked top in the country, this is further evidence of the excellence of French at Oxford.'