Nicolas Duriau

Nicolas Duriau is a Postdoctoral Researcher in Languages, Literatures and Translation Studies at Université libre de Bruxelles and University of Oxford, specializing in French Literature and Romance Languages. His research focuses on gender, queer theory, and sex work history in 19th-century French literature, particularly analyzing how male prostitution was represented under censorship during the First Empire and Bourbon Restoration. He holds a Belgian Fund for Scientific Research (F.R.S.-FNRS) fellowship and has contributed to numerous edited volumes and peer-reviewed journals.

His current research project examines the 'unvoicing' of male prostitution in French novels between 1800–1830, exploring how figures like the greluchon and sigisbée masked explicit themes. His work bridges literary analysis with historical, medical, and legal sources to contextualize evolving gender norms.

• Publications: Over 15 peer-reviewed articles, edited books, and special journal issues on queer history, narrative theory, and interdisciplinary approaches to literature.
• Awards: F.R.S.-FNRS Fellowship, highlighting his contributions to gender and literary studies.
• Engagement: Media interviews and public articles discussing historical and contemporary perceptions of male prostitution.

His interdisciplinary approach synthesizes textual analysis with sociocultural contexts, influencing both academic and public dialogues on queer and gendered narratives in French literature.