Brian Woledge
Encyclopedia
Brian Woledge a scholar of Old French
language and literature, was Fielden Professor of French at University College London
from 1939 to 1971.
, studying at the Leeds Boys' Modern School and Leeds University. He earned a doctorate from the University of Paris
in 1930, writing a dissertation on the medieval French romance L'Atre périlleux.
Woledge held lectureships at the University of Hull
and the University of Aberdeen
before being appointed at the age of 35 to the Fielden Chair of French in University College London
, where he headed up the French department until his retirement in 1971. He was elected to the British Academy
in 1989.
Woledge introduced Reading Week and the "conferences" at Missenden Abbey
or Cumberland Lodge
in Windsor Great Park
to integrate new students into the department, and established UCL's own B.A. in French.
Woledge was a committed socialist and secularist.
His last book was his Commentaire sur Yvain, published when he was in his eighties despite problems with his eyesight.
In 1979, he wrote: "The truth is that, if you want to edit an Old French text, you must first learn Old French; of course, you will never know it as well as you can know Modern French, and it is partly for this reason that you must have a humble recognition of your own ignorance, while at the same time trying to reduce your ignorance by discussing difficulties with fellow specialists and making full use of reference books."
Old French
Old French was the Romance dialect continuum spoken in territories that span roughly the northern half of modern France and parts of modern Belgium and Switzerland from the 9th century to the 14th century...
language and literature, was Fielden Professor of French at University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
from 1939 to 1971.
Biography
Brian Woledge spent his childhood in LeedsLeeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, studying at the Leeds Boys' Modern School and Leeds University. He earned a doctorate from the University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
in 1930, writing a dissertation on the medieval French romance L'Atre périlleux.
Woledge held lectureships at the University of Hull
University of Hull
The University of Hull, known informally as Hull University, is an English university, founded in 1927, located in Hull, a city in the East Riding of Yorkshire...
and the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
before being appointed at the age of 35 to the Fielden Chair of French in University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
, where he headed up the French department until his retirement in 1971. He was elected to the British Academy
British Academy
The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national body for the humanities and the social sciences. Its purpose is to inspire, recognise and support excellence in the humanities and social sciences, throughout the UK and internationally, and to champion their role and value.It receives an annual...
in 1989.
Woledge introduced Reading Week and the "conferences" at Missenden Abbey
Missenden Abbey
Missenden Abbey was an Augustinian monastery founded in 1133 in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom. It was ruined in the Dissolution of the Monasteries and the ruins later incorporated into a Georgian mansion.The abbey has been owned by Buckinghamshire New University since the mid...
or Cumberland Lodge
Cumberland Lodge
Cumberland Lodge is a 17th century country house in Windsor Great Park located 3.5 miles south of Windsor Castle. It is now occupied by a charitable foundation which holds residential conferences, lectures and discussions concerning the burning issues facing society. The primary beneficiaries of...
in Windsor Great Park
Windsor Great Park
Windsor Great Park is a large deer park of , to the south of the town of Windsor on the border of Berkshire and Surrey in England. The park was, for many centuries, the private hunting ground of Windsor Castle and dates primarily from the mid-13th century...
to integrate new students into the department, and established UCL's own B.A. in French.
Personal life and views
Brian Woledge married Christine Craven in 1933 (died 1993), who contributed to the English translations in Woledge's 1961 edition of The Penguin Book of French Verse to the Fifteenth Century. They had one son and one daughter.Woledge was a committed socialist and secularist.
Published work
Brian Woledge advanced knowledge of medieval French language and literature, and his Bibliographie des romans et nouvelles en prose française antérieurs à 1500 and Répertoire des plus anciens textes en prose française remain standard works.His last book was his Commentaire sur Yvain, published when he was in his eighties despite problems with his eyesight.
In 1979, he wrote: "The truth is that, if you want to edit an Old French text, you must first learn Old French; of course, you will never know it as well as you can know Modern French, and it is partly for this reason that you must have a humble recognition of your own ignorance, while at the same time trying to reduce your ignorance by discussing difficulties with fellow specialists and making full use of reference books."