Thematic Dossiers

Nineteenth-Century French Studies welcomes proposals for thematic dossiers that demonstrate those qualities that have long been the hallmark of the journal: rigor and depth of exposition; a balance of theory and textual analysis; and contributions from European and North American scholars, from junior and senior colleagues alike. For investigating a new field of study, for crossing disciplines, or for highlighting a certain line of inquiry, the Editorial Board invites expressions of interest for projects that stand to make significant contributions to our field's understanding of the long nineteenth century. As the journal publishes in English and in French, individual contributions may be in either language.

Rather than a standalone special issue (about which see below), a thematic dossier—typically an introduction and six articles—sits within an issue in which at least two unrelated articles also appear. In order to leave room for the unrelated articles, a dossier may not exceed 330,000 characters with spaces (including max.-150-word abstracts, lists of works cited, and endnotes). 

Proposals, in English or in French, should include the following:

• rationale (750–1,000 words);
• the bilingual call for papers, which the guest editor(s) is responsible for publishing on Fabula and distributing to all relevant listservs;
• names of potential contributors with, for each name, an indication of whether they have already committed to submitting something for consideration or if they will be invited to do so by the editor(s); and
• a proposed calendar for carrying out the project, ending with the anticipated date of submitting the completed manuscript (in November or May).

The journal's Editorial Board will evaluate proposals for their potential impact on nineteenth-century French studies as well as their ability to address the above criteria.

It takes 18–24 months from start to finish, i.e. from call for papers to double-blind peer review to publication. Guest editors are responsible for ensuring double-blind peer review (as per the journal's standard policy) for all articles submitted for consideration, and they should expect to submit the peer-reviewed, completed manuscript (which must follow the journal's style sheet) to the Editorial Board six months before the anticipated publication date. Members of the journal’s Editorial and Advisory Boards will then evaluate the manuscript and advise the Editor, with respect to the overall project as well as to each individual contribution. If a contribution is found to be unacceptable, the guest editor(s) may be invited to proceed without it if the overall volume is of appropriate length, or replace it with another text (which would also have to pass peer review). Once a dossier manuscript is accepted, the guest editor(s) and Editorial Board will work together to produce final copy suitable for publication.

Before submitting a proposal, colleagues are strongly encouraged to consult current and recent projects:

• Cultivating the senses / L’inscription culturelle des sens. Special dossier edited by Evelyne Ender. [CFP / to be published in vol. 54 nos. 3–4, spring–summer 2026]
• Fueling the Nineteenth Century: Energy and Nineteenth-Century French Studies. Special dossier edited by Cary Hollinshead-Strick and Anne O’Neil-Henry. [CFP / to be published in vol. 53, nos. 3–4, spring–summer 2025]
• Le théâtre social. Special dossier edited by Olivier Bara. [CFP / published in vol. 51, nos. 3–4, spring–summer 2023]
• Race and Literature, 1848-1904. Special dossier edited by Daniel Desormeaux. [CFP / published in vol. 50, nos. 3–4, spring–summer 2022]
• Representing Royalty in the Nineteenth Century / Figures de la royauté au XIXe siècle. Special dossier edited by Paule Petitier. [CFP / published in vol. 47, nos. 3–4, spring–summer 2019]
• Chateaubriand: Mapping the Post-Revolutionary World / Chateaubriand: cartographier le monde post-révolutionnaire. Special dossier edited by Jean-Marie Roulin. [CFP / published in vol. 46, nos. 3–4, spring–summer 2018]

Please note that the journal is not considering proposals for special issues. It has published two in its long history:

• "la Commune n'est pas morte...". Special issue edited by Robert St. Clair and Seth Whidden. [CFP / published as vol. 49, nos. 3–4, spring–summer 2021; click here to purchase a copy]
• Sculpture et poétique: Sculpture and Literature in France, 1789—1859. Special issue edited by L. Cassandra Hamrick and Suzanne Nash. Published as vol. 35, no. 1, fall 2006.

For more information, please query the Editor.