Andrew Watts

Andrew Watts is a Reader in French Studies and Head of Taught Postgraduate in the College of Arts and Law (LCAHM) at the University of Birmingham. He holds a BA and PhD from the University of Bristol, specializing in 19th-century French prose fiction, particularly the works of Honoré de Balzac. His research explores multimedia adaptations of classic literature across film, graphic novels, and stage musicals. He has authored/co-authored key publications such as *The History of French Literature on Film* (2020) and edited volumes including *The Cambridge Companion to Balzac* (2017). His work bridges literary analysis with media studies, emphasizing cultural transmission and adaptive innovation. Watts co-directs the Birmingham Centre for Film Studies (B-Film) and serves as co-editor of *Dix-Neuf*, the journal of the Society of Dix-Neuviémistes. He actively supervises postgraduate students in adaptation studies, Balzac scholarship, and French literature.

**Education**: BA (First Class) in Modern Languages (French/Spanish), University of Bristol (1999); PhD in French Studies, University of Bristol (2004).

**Research Interests**: Balzac studies, adaptation across media, 19th-century French literature, cultural history of cinema, and interdisciplinary methodologies in literary analysis.

**Recent Work**: His 2023 special issue *L’adaptation/ Adaptation* in *Revue Balzac* redefines adaptation studies through Balzac’s legacy. He has contributed to BBC radio discussions on Balzac and co-edited *Fortunes of War: The West Midlands at the Time of Waterloo* (2015). His upcoming 2025 chapter on *Huckleberry Finn* adaptations examines transatlantic cultural memory.

**Grants & Collaborations**: Co-director of B-Film since 2015; collaborates internationally on Balzacian adaptations. Supervision focuses on topics like Caribbean identity in film and French Occupation cinema.

**Labs/Teams**: Active in B-Film and Dix-Neuf editorial board, fostering interdisciplinary research networks.