Prof. Véronique Duché FAHA
Born and raised in France, Véronique Duché is A. R. Chisholm Professor of French at the University of Melbourne. Her research is concerned with medieval and early modern texts and books, especially the shift from manuscript to print, and digital scientific approaches to the study of premodern texts. She has published many articles on translation into French during the Renaissance and edited several 16th century novels, and directed the first volume of Histoire des Traductions en Langue Française. XVe et XVIe siècles (1470-1610) (Paris, Verdier, 2015). She also researches the language of Australian Soldiers during the First World War as well as contemporary Australian theatre.
Véronique has a lifelong passion for sharing the beauty and traditions of her homeland. Her interests range from Renaissance châteaux and medieval monasteries to the charm of French villages, gastronomy, and the art of everyday life. With years of experience leading university programs, researching on French history and literature, and developing cultural projects that bridge France and Australia, Véronique has a gift for storytelling that brings cities, monuments, and texts to life.
With her unique background—living between France and Australia—she is perfectly placed to help international visitors connect with France in a warm and engaging way. Whether strolling through the traboules (passageways) of Lyon, exploring the Loire Valley, or sharing insights on French theatre and philosophy, Véronique offers a unique journey into the soul of France—combining academic rigour with warmth, curiosity, and a traveller’s sense of wonder.
Fellow of the Academy of the Humanities (FAHA)
Ordre National du mérite
Ordre des Palmes académiques – national order bestowed by the French Republic on distinguished academics and teachers for valuable service to universities, education and science.
Vice-President of The Institute for the Study of French-Australian Relations (ISFAR)
Selected Bibliography
Véronique Duché-Gavet FAHA
A. R. Chisholm Professor of French
The University of Melbourne
https://www.findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/display/person395540
https://theconversation.com/profiles/veronique-duche-173670
https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/comedy-in-the-trenches
Book chapters
Duché V., “Le panorama sonore des romans de chevalerie de la Renaissance”, Bruits du récit sous l’Ancien Régime, M. Cartron, O. Leplatre and M. Ricord eds, Paris, Garnier, 2025, p. 195-211.
Duché V., “Le silence dans le roman de chevalerie de la Renaissance”, Dire le silence à la Renaissance, P. Mounier ed., Grenoble, UGA, 2025, p. 181-195.
Duché V. and A. Laugesen, “Print as Caregiving in Wartime: The Role of Australian First World War Trench and Hospital Magazines”, A Hundred years of Bibliotherapy Healing Through Books, S> Campbell, S. Haslam and E.G.C. King eds, Oxon, Routledge, 2025, p. 119-136.
Duché V. and Russo Batterham D., “Touché: French submarines in Australia”, in Liens franco-australiens. Mélanges en l’honneur du professeur Colin Nettelbeck, B. Bourgeois, V. Duché, J. Dutton and A. McGregor eds, Paris, Garnier, 2024, p. 331-344
Duché V., “Treasured possessions in Australian Rare Books Collections”, in What have the French ever done for us? French contributions to Australia’s cultural life, J. West-Sooby ed., Australia, Wakefield Press, 2024, p.164-174.
Duché V., “Portraying the Enemy: Humour in French and Australian Trench Journals”, Expressions of War in Australia and the Pacific. Language, Trauma, Memory and Official Discourse, Laugesen A., Fisher C. (eds), Palgrave Macmillan, 2019, p. 43-65.
Refereed journal articles
Duché V., “Centenary Paper: Laboratory for Experimentation: Iberian Fiction Translated into French (1525–1550)”, Bulletin of Hispanic Studies, 101(5), 2024, p. 387-395
Duché V. and Laugesen, A., “‘Somewhere in France’: Language, Place and Remembrance in Australian Soldiers’ Periodical Culture (1918-1929)”. French Australian Review, 2023, p. 62-89.
Benbow H., Darian-Smith K. and Duché V., “Beyond bully beef: soldiers, food and transcultural interactions in World War I”, Food, Culture and Society, 24, 3 (2021), p. 390-405
Duché V., “La Légende du Graal à travers le prisme de l’Oulipo”, Contemporary French and Francophone Studies, 25, 5, 2021, p. 640-647
Duché V. and Schroeter F., « L’avocat d’Huarte », Cahiers de recherches médiévales et humanistes / Journal of Medieval and Humanistic Studies 35 (2018), p. 389-404
Duché V. and Russo Batterham D., “Australian at war: Food matters”, The French Australian Review, 62 (2017) p. 34-48
Duché V., « « ⋯ ce que je ne doute » : Traduire à la Renaissance », Meta, 61, 1 (2016), p. 60-77
Art, History and Landscapes of Burgundy and Alsace 2027