Aurélien Wasilewski

Aurélien Wasilewski is a Lecturer in English and researcher at Paris-Panthéon-Assas University, affiliated with the Languages Center and the Center for Studies and Research in Administrative and Political Sciences (CERSA). He specializes in the history of British gardens, horticultural press, and environmental heritage, with a particular focus on the Victorian era and the work of William Robinson (1838–1935).

Education:

• Ph.D. in British Civilization (2022), University of Lille – Dissertation: William Robinson (1838-1935): gardens, horticultural press and environmental heritage in the United Kingdom
• Agrégation in English (2013)
• Master’s in International Relations and Action Abroad (2005), University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne

Research Interests:

Wasilewski’s research lies at the intersection of environmental humanities, garden history, and media studies. He investigates how 19th-century British gardening culture, particularly through the lens of William Robinson, shaped national identity, environmental consciousness, and aesthetic values. His work explores the role of the illustrated press in democratizing gardening knowledge and fostering a collective horticultural heritage.

Key themes include:

• History of gardening and garden writing
• Environmental aesthetics and the sublime
• Horticultural journalism and popular science
• Visual culture and illustration in the Victorian press
• Rural landscapes and heritage preservation

Scientific Contributions:

Wasilewski has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals such as English Studies, Victorian and Edwardian Notebooks, and Études écossaises. He has presented at over a dozen national and international conferences, including the annual congresses of the French Society of Anglicists in Higher Education (SAES) and the French Society for Victorian and Edwardian Studies (SFEVE).

He is also actively involved in organizing academic events, including:

• International conference: Breaking New Grounds: Democratising Gardens and Gardening in Great Britain, 19th-20th centuries (Montpellier, 2024)
• International conference: Land and Power in Scotland: History, Law and the Environment (Paris, 2025)

Professional Roles:

• Secretary of the French Society for Victorian and Edwardian Studies (S.F.E.V.E.)
• Member of the Society of Anglicists in Higher Education (S.A.E.S.)
• Coordinator of English for Information and Communication at the French Press Institute
• Member of the interdisciplinary research pole Assas Études Environnementales (A2E)