Marian Hobson

Marian Elizabeth Hobson Jeanneret, (née Hobson; born 10 November 1941) is a British scholar of French philosophy, and culture. From 1992 to 2005, she was Professor of French at Queen Mary, University of London. She had previously taught at the University of Warwick, the University of Geneva, and the University of Cambridge. In 1977, she became the first woman to be elected a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge.

Early life and education Hobson was born on 10 November 1941 to Charles Hobson, a fitter at Neasden Power station till 1945. Then a Labour Party politician and Member of Parliament who was made a life peer in 1964 as Baron Hobson, and his wife Doris Mary Hobson (née Spink). She studied at Newnham College, Cambridge, graduating with Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees: as per tradition, her BA was promoted to a Master of Arts (MA Cantab) degree. Her doctoral thesis, which she submitted in 1969, was titled "The concept of 'illusion' in French XVIIIth century aesthetic theory".

Academic career From 1966 to 1971, Hobson was an assistant lecturer in French at the University of Warwick. In 1977, she joined the University of Cambridge having been elected a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge: She was additionally a university lecturer between 1985 and 1992. From 2009 to 2012, she was a Member of the Council of the British Academy. Together they had one son.

Selected works