Introduction Dr. Philippe Barr is a published scholar of Enlightenment literature, aesthetics, and political thought, with a parallel career in graduate admissions strategy. His academic work has been reviewed, cited, and taught internationally — while his consulting practice has helped hundreds gain admission to the world’s top graduate programs.
📚 View my full list of academic publications on Google Scholar
Fields: Enlightenment Literature and Culture, Narrative Theory, Aesthetics and Politics, French and Francophone Studies, Histories of Poverty and the Public Sphere, Graduate Admissions Strategy
Affiliations: Former Assistant Professor, UNC–Chapel Hill | Former Assistant Director of MBA Admissions, UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School | Graduate Admissions Consultant, The Admit Lab
Name used in publications: Philippe Barr
Languages: English, French
Books
Rétif de la Bretonne spectateur nocturne: une esthétique de la pauvreté
Rodopi (Brill), Faux Titre Series, 2012
ISBN: 978-90-420-3539-3
Amazon | Brill
Edited Volumes (Forthcoming)
- La découverte australe, Les Classiques Garnier (2016)
- Les gynographes, Les Classiques Garnier (2017)
Book Chapters
- Barr, Philippe. “Marivaudage et éducation: l’éthique du sentiment maternel…” In Marivaudages: théories et pratiques d’un discours, Oxford: Voltaire Foundation, 2014. ISBN: 978-0-7294-1134-9 Oxford University Studies in the Enlightenment
- Barr, Philippe. “La maladie du temps qui passe: Rétif et l’inscription.” In Le corps du XVIIIe siècle, Presses de l’Université Laval, 2008: 155–166. Read via OpenEdition
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
- Barr, Philippe. “Le ‘je’ et son ombre: la mort imaginaire de Louis Sébastien Mercier à la lumière de Saint-Martin.” Orbis Litterarum 64.4 (2009): 175–188. Read on Wiley
- Barr, Philippe. “Paris, ville sublime: le clair-obscur des Nuits de Paris.” Études rétiviennes 41 (2009): 165–172.
- Barr, Philippe. “Le programme interprétatif intradiégétique des Nuits de Paris: autour de la Marquise de M***.” Études rétiviennes 39 (2007): 253–261.
- Barr, Philippe. “Le je des Nuits de Paris et les Lumières.” Études rétiviennes 37 (2005): 45–62.
Reception & Scholarly Reviews
Rétif de la Bretonne spectateur nocturne has been reviewed in:
- Ivy Dyckman, The French Review, Vol. 87, No. 3 (March 2014), pp. 254–255. Read on Project MUSE
- Françoise Leborgne, Eighteenth-Century Fiction, Vol. 27, No. 1 (Fall 2014), pp. 173–175. Read on Project MUSE
- Laurence Mall, French Studies, Vol. 67, No. 3 (July 2013), p. 412. Read on Project MUSE
Selected Book Reviews
- The French Review Vol. 86.2 — Review of Le dialogue et le conte dans la poétique de Crébillon by Marie-Florence Sguaitamatti. Read on JSTOR
- The French Review Vol. 85.2: 361 — Les Lumières en mouvement, ed. Isabelle Moreau. Read on JSTOR
- H-France Review Vol. 11.3 — Espaces, objets du roman au XVIIIe siècle, ed. Jacques Berchtold. Read on H-France
- The French Review Vol. 84.5 — Le Langage de l’implicite dans l’œuvre de Crébillon fils by Emeline Mossé. Read on JSTOR
- H-France Review Vol. 10.9 — French Laughter by Walter Redfern. Read on H-France
- The French Review Vol. 82.5 — Les confidences de Nicolas by Gérard de Nerval. Read on JSTOR
Citations & Mentions
- Valet, Sylvie; Klein, Claude; Loty, Laurent. “De la satire à la juvénale.” Études rétiviennes 52, 2020. Link
- Loty, Laurent. “Un Homme-singe et un Homme de nuit à l’origine d’une anthropologie satirique.” Link
- La comédie humaine à Paris: les marges dans la ville des Lumières. Link
- Les espaces de l’imprimé au XVIIIe siècle. Link
In the Media
📰 Press
Interviewed by La Presse (Québec) on beauty and literature: Read the interview
🎙️ Podcast Appearances
PrepCast — “The Power of Networking in Grad Admissions”
Hosted by PrepAdviser
In this episode, I spoke with the PrepCast team about how meaningful networking can shape your graduate school journey — from discovering hidden program opportunities to building early connections with future advisors.
🎧 Listen on Spotify | Listen on Apple Podcasts
Public Writing
Dr. Barr has authored 100+ essays and strategy guides on graduate admissions, academic writing, and higher education access. Explore his work on The Admit Lab Blog.
Selected:
- How to Write a Statement of Purpose for Grad School
- Do you Need a Masters to Get a PhD (2025 Guide)?
- Masters vs Doctorate: Which One Is Right for You? A Strategic Guide for Grad School Applicants
Graduate Admissions Experience
Former Assistant Director of MBA Admissions at UNC Kenan-Flagler, where he evaluated applications, interviewed candidates, and shaped strategy for one of the U.S.’s top-ranked MBA programs.
Awards & Recognition
- Vicki and David Craver Academic Leadership Grant
- UNC Junior Faculty Development Award
- UNC Research Council Award
External Profiles
YouTube | LinkedIn | Amazon Author Page |Medium |ORCID |ResearchGate |Wikidata |I$M |Academia.edu | Google Scholar
Academic CV Snapshot
Education
PhD, French Studies, New York University (2006)
MPhil, French Studies, New York University (2003)
MA, French Literature and Culture, McGill University (1997)
BA, French Studies, Université de Montréal (1994)
Academic Appointments
Assistant Professor of French and Francophone Studies, UNC–Chapel Hill (2006–2013)
Faculty-in-Residence & Co-Director, UNC Paris Summer Program (2007–2012)
Editorial & Reviewer Service
Editorial Board Member, Romance Notes
Manuscript Reviewer for Romance Notes and Romance Studies
University Service (Selected)
Graduate Admissions Committee, UNC–Chapel Hill
Faculty Promotion & Review Committee
Curriculum Development Committee
Full academic CV available upon request.