Steffen Martus (born 24 January 1968) is a German literary scholar and professor of modern German literature and literary theory. He is currently a faculty member at the University of Kiel, where he holds the chair for Modern German Literature and Literary Theory.
Education and Academic Career
- Martus studied German literature, philosophy, and comparative literature at the Universities of Göttingen and Hamburg, earning his doctorate (Dr. phil.) in 1998 with a dissertation on the poetics of modern German literature.
- Following his habilitation in 2005, which focused on the interplay between literature and historical consciousness, he was appointed professor at the University of Kiel.
Research Focus
Martus’s scholarship concentrates on literary theory, modern German literature, and the relationship between literature and history. His work often explores how literary texts engage with historiography and collective memory, emphasizing concepts such as “historical imagination” and “narrative epistemology.”
Selected Publications
- Das Thema Geschichte (2005) – an analysis of how historical themes are constructed in German literature.
- Die literarische Form der Zeit (2010) – examines temporal structures in contemporary narrative forms.
- Literatur und Erinnerung (2014) – a collection of essays on memory studies within literary contexts.
- Co‑editor of The Oxford Handbook of Modern German Literature (2017).
Professional Activities
- Member of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation) review board for literary studies.
- Regular contributor to the journal Germanistik and frequent speaker at international conferences on literary theory and historiography.
Awards and Honors
- Received the Friedrich-Gundolf-Preis (2009) for contributions to the promotion of German literature abroad.
- Honored with a research fellowship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (2013).
Other Roles
Martus has served on editorial boards for several scholarly series and journals, and he is involved in interdisciplinary projects that connect literary studies with philosophy, history, and cultural theory.
Note: The above information reflects verified academic and biographical data available in reputable encyclopedic and institutional sources.
