News: Obituaries

Celia Britton
15 July 2024

It is with immense sadness that we learned of the sudden death recently at the age of 78 of Professor Celia Britton, a towering figure in French and Francophone Studies, and one of the most distinguished past presidents of the Society for French Studies from 1996 to 1998.

9781789621044
08 August 2022

We were so sad to learn that Keith Reader has died. As his colleague Bill Marshall put it so well on Francofil, Keith was ‘an endearing man, whose droll humour is never to be forgotten, nor his gentleness of soul but fury at injustice and intolerance of pomposity. A dedicated cinephile, he made a special, prolific and imaginative contribution to the expansion and renewal of French Studies into Film and Cultural Studies.’

We share in the link below some memories from colleagues who were closest to him, and are planning a more lengthy tribute to Keith through the journal, where his inimitable mix of gruff humour, iconoclasm and fine scholarship will be much missed - as will his presence at conferences, and his friendship. RIP, Keith.

Simon Gaunt
13 December 2021

It is with profound sadness that the Society of French Studies learned of the untimely death of Simon Gaunt, a former President, and a dear friend to so many in the Society and beyond. He was a magnificent leader and pioneer, respected and admired in the French Studies community both nationally and internationally for his immense contributions to Medieval Studies, but also for so much more. We share in the link below a few tributes to Simon from some of the colleagues closest to him, and will be reflecting in the coming weeks and months on how we might honour his memory in a more lasting way.

MICHAEL SYROTINSKI

Marshall Professor of French, University of Glasgow.

President, Society for French Studies

17 January 2020

The Society for French Studies is saddened to report the death of Professor Alan J. L. Busst on 31 December 2019. He was eighty-four.