In Memoriam: Emeritus Professor Dennis Wood

The Department of Modern Languages is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Emeritus Professor Dennis Wood, who died on Friday 25 May.

Having read French at the University of London and completed research at St John’s College, Cambridge, Dennis joined the University of Birmingham in 1972. Dennis published extensively on Benjamin Constant, and he was a member of the international Editorial Board that prepared the 45-volume Correspondance générale and Œuvres complètes of Constant. Dennis also sat on the international Editorial Board (1973-1983) that prepared the Œuvres complètes of Isabelle de Charrière in 10 volumes (1979-1983), with Dennis holding particular responsibility for Volumes VIII and IX. Dennis had a strong appreciation for French film and this carried through into his teaching.

In 2007, after 35 years of service to the University and its students, Dennis retired as Emeritus Professor of French Literature and Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques. After his retirement Dennis kept in touch with colleagues at the University, and he regularly made the effort to come into the Department and share news, including about his burgeoning career as an author of fiction.

Dennis was a kind, gentle and extremely funny colleague. He was also a real scholar of languages both ancient and modern. He will be missed hugely.

If you have any memories of Dennis you would like to share, please email us at artswebteam@contacts.bham.ac.uk to have them added to this page.