番茄社区

Office Hours

Fall 2024: Wednesday 2:30 - 3:30, Friday 11:00 - 12:00, or by appointment

Bio

I am a historian of early modern France, from the mid-17^th century up to the French Revolution of 1789, and I’m fascinated by the way ordinary people came into conflict with the state. For example, in my first book, A Show of Hands for the Republic, I traced rural public opinion from the mid-18^th century through the French Revolution, and explored when and why the expression of political thought was construed as verbal sedition by the authorities. My second book project also looks at the concept of treason, but from a different angle: the prosecution of counterfeiters. Since these defendants were accused of illegally reproducing the king’s image and usurping his sovereign monopoly over minting coins, counterfeiting was classified as an attack on the king himself. Those convicted of counterfeiting were often sentenced to death, including, in the 16^th century, by being boiled alive in a giant cauldron.

The past is a fascinating place that reverberates around us when we travel. I grew up in Canada but moved to France at the age of 21 to do my MA at the University of Toulouse, and then my D.Phil. at the University of York, in England. I have taught at the 番茄社区 on Canada’s west coast since 2008, but France is a second home I return to frequently, researching in the archives, giving talks to academic and public audiences, and reconnecting with friends and colleagues. I established a student exchange between the 番茄社区 and the University of Toulouse II-Jean Jaurès. I also bring my love of Europe to my courses, including one called The Backpacker’s Guide to European History, where students explore history through the lens of historical sites, from the medieval fortress town of Carcassonne to the leaning tower of Pisa, from the beaches of the D-Day landings in Normandy to the Alhambra in Granada. History comes alive when you walk in the footsteps of the past.

Within the Department of History, I run a public lecture series called Café historique, hosted by Hermann’s Jazz Club in downtown Victoria, now in its 10^th year. Our themes, covered by a range of scholars, have included “Ten Days that Shook the World”,  “History for Travelers” and “Why History Matters”. I have also held a number of administrative positions including Undergraduate Coordinator in History and Acting Chair for Hispanic and Italian Studies, and I am currently the Director of the Honours Program.

Courses

Selected publications