Dr. Patrick Thériault

Biography

Patrick Thériault is an Associate Professor in the Department of French at the University of Toronto. His main research interests lie in Nineteenth-Century French Literature, with a focus on Symbolism and the interaction of literature with philosophical issues of modernity, particularly concerning themes of normalization and disbelief. He employs a detailed textual analysis approach to explore the symbolic implications of literature from the fin-de-siècle period. Thériault’s scholarly contributions include significant publications such as ‘Le tout dernier Baudelaire’ and ‘Une littérature “comme incantatoire”’. He has edited works that delve into the nexus between literature and atheism in the 19th century and provides critical analyses of well-known literary figures like Baudelaire and Mallarmé. His academic endeavors are characterized by an integration of literary criticism with deeper philosophical inquiries, enabling a nuanced understanding of modern literary movements.

Research Interests