Jane Desmarais

Jane Desmarais is Professor in English at Goldsmiths, University of London, where she founded and directs the Decadence Research Unit. She has held progressive academic roles since 1997, advancing from Lecturer to Professor. Her leadership includes Deputy Head of Department, Research Excellence Framework chair, and editorship of Volupté: Interdisciplinary Journal of Decadence Studies.

Education:

• PhD (part-time), Birkbeck College, University of London (1991-1996)
• DALF (French Language Diploma), Institut Français (1996)
• TEFL Certification, International House (1993)
• MA Literature and Visual Arts, University of Reading (1985-1986)
• BA English, University of Reading (1982-1985)

Research focuses on 19th-20th century literature, visual culture, and sensory dimensions of Decadence. Key areas include:

• Anglo-French cultural exchange
• Psychoanalytic approaches to Aestheticism
• Interdisciplinary studies of music, art, and literature

Her work often explores forgotten cultural phenomena, like hothouse flowers' symbolism.

Publications emphasize sensory experiences in Decadent literature (olfaction, sound), critical editions of neglected authors (Arthur Symons, Maria Edgeworth), and cultural histories. Recent trends show deepened focus on archival recovery and cross-artform analysis.

Leadership:

• Organized international conferences: Decadence and Magic(k) (2018), Arthur Symons at the fin de siècle (2017)
• Founding Chair, British Association of Decadence Studies
• Core member: Decadence Translation Network, Aestheticism and Decadence Network

Directs the Decadence Research Unit, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration on fin-de-siècle cultural studies through conferences, publications, and international networks.