Boulanger writes away Teacher by day, novelist by night works to tell Guinevere’s tale

By Danya Risam-Chandi | Staff Writer

Last summer, Dr. Jennifer Boulanger, Upper School English teacher, took a trip to England for creative inspiration for her novel set in the Medieval time period.

Upper School students have seen Boulanger walking through the halls, conferencing about papers and teaching her many classes. However, while she manages all these things, they may not know she also is writing a novel.

Boulanger began brainstorming during COVID. While many were obsessed with the newest at-home workout or baking banana bread, Boulanger was writing away. Now that school has gone back to normal, Boulanger has to manage teaching two courses, raising a 2-year-old and working on her book.

“Summer and school breaks are super helpful,” she said.

During her breaks, Boulanger ensures she makes the most of her free time.

“I would go out to the Master’s Garden at Christ Church and write there about the space,” Boulanger said. “It was very inspirational.”

Boulanger considers herself lucky to be surrounded by people supporting her throughout her writing journey. From her parents to other English faculty members, Boulanger has a community backing her.

“My husband is my biggest advocate,” Boulanger said. “He is the one who encouraged me to take this trip to Oxford, and he looked after the baby while I was away.”

The book is an adaptation of 12th century medieval romance, “The Knight of the Cart,” by Chrétien de Troyes. The story is a romance between Guinevere and Lancelot. Guinevere loves Lancelot, but is married to King Arthur and struggles with her conflicting emotions.

Arthurian scholars mentored Boulanger through her higher education. She believes they have opened up the Arthurian time period for her to explore the story. Boulanger credits this to two of her mentors, SJ Murray at Baylor University and Bonnie Wheeler at Southern Methodist University.

Boulanger wants the book to resonate particularly with women and girls.

“I feel like Guinevere has been given the short shrift throughout history, and I really want her to be somebody who women can empathize with and relate to,” Boulanger said.

Boulanger focused on feminist and gender theory and criticism through her doctorate, which gives her insight into Guinevere’s psychological state and relationships.

“What I find intriguing about this story is the tension between what the character’s hearts want and what their duty tells them they need to do,” Boulanger said.

Boulanger brings a different perspective to this conflict through the lens of gender roles. She is trying to explore how this story has portrayed the difference between what women want and desire versus what they are able to attain.

While Boulanger admits she does not have much common ground to sympathize with her characters, she does find some areas where she can connect.

“Guinevere and Arthur don’t have any children, so the idea of wanting children makes sense to me,” Boulanger said.

Boulanger has a 2-year-old, and remembering how she felt when she was planning to start a family helps her relate to her characters.

Boulanger carries her interest in the Arthurian time period and writing skills over to her career at Hockaday. She teaches a senior King Arthur course every so often and tries to read pieces of Arthurian literature with her freshman and sophomore classes.

While on her trip to Oxford, Boulanger had the chance to catch up with a former student, Maria Katsulos ’17, who is currently pursuing a doctorate at Northwestern.

“She was so enthusiastic in giving me advice on my writing,” Boulanger said.

Boulanger remembers being surprised when one day Katsulos invited her to a Game of Thrones lecture by an Oxford don.

“She was like ‘you’re going to sit at the high table where the professors sit,’” Boulanger said.

The invitation was unexpected and a great surprise.

“I was like dying,” Boulanger said. “I was like, that’s amazing.”

The evening ended up with Boulanger having a lively conversation after the lecture with the Oxford don about her project.

“The trip was great and had a few unexpected turns,” Boulanger said.

Hopefully, her novel can be described as the same.