Professor Edward Welch, Head of our School of Modern Languages and Cultures, has been awarded the 2024 R. Gapper Book Prize by the Society for French Studies.
The award recognises his latest publication, Making Space in Post-War France: The Dreams, Realities and Aftermath of State Planning (Legenda), as the most distinguished book in French studies published by a UK or Ireland based scholar in the previous calendar year.
The R. Gapper Book Prize is a highly respected honour in the field, awarded for critical and scholarly distinction, originality, and the likely impact on wider debate.
Professor Welch’s book stood out for its intellectual ambition, depth of research, and its eloquent and multidisciplinary approach.
Making Space in Post-War France offers a fascinating exploration of state planning in France following the Second World War.
The book moves seamlessly between political history, cultural theory, and visual media, tracing how post-war planning was driven by a forward-looking vision shaped by France’s diminished colonial status and evolving national identity.
The judging panel praised the work as a “well-written and eye-opening” study that not only provides new insight into Gaullist ideology and post-war development but also repositions state planning as a vital lens through which to understand modern French society.
The book engages with film, photography, and literary texts alongside official planning documents, demonstrating exceptional scholarly breadth and relevance across disciplines including history, film studies, and urban planning.
Professor Welch returned to Durham in 2024 to lead the School of Modern Languages and Cultures, having previously held academic posts at both Durham (2001–2013) and the University of Aberdeen, where he was Carnegie Professor of French.
This book marks the culmination of a long-term research project supported by leading institutions such as the British Academy and the Fondation Maison des sciences de l’homme in Paris.
His previous work includes acclaimed studies on France’s colonial legacy and the writer François Mauriac. This latest recognition further establishes Professor Welch as a leading voice in French and Francophone studies.
Our School of Modern Languages and Cultures is frequently ranked among the top five in the UK. Visit our Modern Languages and Cultures webpages for more information on our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
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