Prof Frances Weightman

Profile

I feel privileged to teach and research in an area which never ceases to excite and interest me personally, and one which I believe is also of crucial importance to the world today.

As for my academic qualifications, I have an MA in Chinese and a PhD in Classical Chinese Fiction, both from the University of Edinburgh. I came to Leeds in 2001 and have been here ever since. 

Responsibilities

• Director of The Leeds Centre for New Chinese Writing

Research interests

I am interested in Chinese fiction of all time periods, and specifically in the fields of Chinese authorial identity, paratexts and Chinese-English literary translation.

I am Founding Director of The Leeds Centre for New Chinese Writing, and my current research looks mainly at contemporary Chinese literature, including the dissemination of its translation in English-speaking contexts.

I am currently working on a monograph about Chinese children’s authors for the Bloomsbury Perspectives on Children’s Literature. 

Professional memberships

• Association for Speakers of Chinese as a Second Language (co-founder)
• European Association for Chinese Studies
• British Association of Chinese Studies
• Universities Council for Modern Languages (Exec Board, 2018-2022)
• Higher Education Academy (Fellow)

Student education

I very much enjoy teaching and consider it a key part of my role, so was delighted to win the University's Partnership Award for Inspirational Teaching. I teach modules at undergraduate and postgraduate level on Chinese literature (contemporary and traditional), modern Chinese history, political and legal documents and Chinese-English translation.

Research groups and institutes

• Chinese
• Asia Pacific Studies
• East Asian Studies
• Literary studies
• Centre for World Literatures

Current postgraduate researchers

• Wenxi Li
• Peng Qiao
• Mei-Yi Kuo
• Miqi Liu
• Miss Yantao Sun
• Yueran Wang