Amanda Dennis

Overview

Professor Amanda Dennis holds a permanent faculty position in the Comparative Literature, English, and Creative Writing department at the American University of Paris (AUP). She specializes in modernist literature, phenomenology, and ecocriticism, with a focus on Samuel Beckett and Maurice Merleau-Ponty. Her academic work bridges literary analysis with interdisciplinary studies, particularly examining embodiment, agency, and the human/nonhuman relationship.

Education & Background

After initial studies in philosophy (dissertation on Merleau-Ponty), she transitioned into literary criticism. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Madrid before earning an MFA in Creative Writing from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Her dual expertise in academic and creative writing enriches her teaching and research.

Research & Publications

Her academic book Beckett and Embodiment: Body, Space, Agency (2021) explores phenomenology and ecology through Beckett’s work. She has published extensively on Beckett, modernism, and interdisciplinary topics in journals like Modern Fiction Studies and Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences. Recent projects include organizing conferences like Beckett and the Anthropocene (2023) and co-editing volumes on Beckett’s legacy.

Creative Work

Her novel Her Here (2020) blends literary fiction with meta-narrative techniques, exploring themes of disappearance and narrative construction. She also contributes to literary initiatives such as the First Pages Prize and Paris Lit Up literary journal.

Teaching

At AUP, she teaches creative writing and modernist literature courses, emphasizing experimental narrative techniques and critical analysis. Her classes foster creativity through workshops and interdisciplinary approaches.