Catriona Seth

Professor Catriona Seth FBA holds the Marshal Foch Chair in French Literature at the University of Oxford's Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages. Affiliated with All Souls College, her work focuses on 18th-century French literature, cultural history, and Enlightenment thought. She has produced groundbreaking scholarship on figures like Marie-Antoinette, André Chénier, and Madame de Staël, alongside editing seminal texts like Les Liaisons dangereuses.

Her research bridges literary analysis with historical context, exploring themes such as colonial identity, gendered authorship, and intellectual networks. Notable works include La Fabrique de l’intime (on women's memoirs) and L’Idée d’Europe (enlightenment visions of Europe). She collaborates internationally, evidenced by multilingual editions and cross-disciplinary projects.

Active in academic governance, Seth supervises numerous graduate students and mentors emerging scholars. Her editorial work spans 18th-century poetry, revolutionary correspondence, and European intellectual history. Recognized as a Fellow of the British Academy, she contributes to Oxford’s rich academic community through teaching, publications, and college leadership.