About this Event
This talk considers the powers of literature to accord or not accord an afterlife, and at what price. It focuses on two women: one, whose (alleged) last words were “Est-ce que je vis encore?” namely Julie de Lespinasse (1732-1776), known today as a salonnière and the author of a series of tragic love-letters; the other, Charlotte Bourette, formerly Curé (1714-1784), a café owner and prolific poet who remains completely unknown today. The talk juxtaposes the two women with the aim of bringing into clear focus what literature does, and what can be done with it.
Kate E. Tunstall is Professor of French at the University of Oxford, Tutorial Fellow of Worcester College, and Chevalière dans l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques. Her publications include, as author, Blindness and Enlightenment (2011), as co-translator, Diderot's Le neveu de Rameau (2014), and as co-editor, History and the Literary: A Method of Interdisciplinary Enquiry (2025).
Event Details & Important Information
This event is free and open to the public, but please note that registration does not guarantee a seat. We intentionally overbook our events, and seating is first come, first served. We recommend arriving early.
Important:
Columbia’s campus is currently open only to Columbia-affiliated guests (with a valid CUID).
If you do not have a Columbia ID, you will need a QR code to enter campus.
To receive a QR code:
- You must register on Eventbrite at least 48 hours in advance
- We will submit your name and email to Public Safety
- You will receive an email from with your unique QR code
Please check your spam/junk folder if you don’t see the email, and bring a valid photo ID with you to present at campus entry points.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Maison Française, 515 West 116th Street, New York, United States
USD 0.00
