My field of expertise is American, French, and German literatures: My focus is 19th century and early 20th century American literature. I am researching American women writers who have chosen France as their home: 'Edith Wharton in Europe' is my current project. Wharton uses actual sites to stage historical dramas of human dilemmas and struggles of artistic creation. The visual arts and architecture play a large role in my research, esp. Renaissance architecture and to some extend the Impressionist painters. Of course, this kind of research informs my teaching greatly. The Freshmen Seminar incorporates many of my findings.
