Catherine Smale

Catherine Smale is a Senior Lecturer in German Studies at King’s College London, based in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures within the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. She specializes in 20th- and 21st-century German literature with a focus on gender theory, political activism, and neurodiversity. Her research explores intersections between literary form and socio-political issues, particularly through the lens of women writers in the Weimar Republic and contemporary neuroqueer narratives.

• Education:
  • B.A. in German and French from University of Cambridge (2006)
  • MPhil in European Literature and Culture from University of Cambridge (2007)
  • PhD in German Literature from University of Cambridge (2011), funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council

Research Interests: Catherine examines literary responses to political activism, gender, disability, and neurodivergence. Her monograph Phantom Images: The Figure of the Ghost in the Work of Christa Wolf and Irina Liebmann (2013) reinterpreted post-reunification German literature through spectral theory. Current projects include a study of Expressionist women’s protest poetry (1910–1924) and neurodiversity in contemporary German literature. She also leads a faculty-funded initiative on neurodiversity and inclusive teaching practices.

Public Engagement: Catherine collaborates with cultural institutions like Tate Britain and the Bröhan Museum, and organizes public film screenings through the German Screen Studies Network. She serves as Admissions and Outreach Lead, engaging schools through A-level workshops and competitions.

• Awards:
  • Hanseatic Scholarship (2010–2011)
  • Alfred Toepfer Stiftung F.V.S. funding

Teaching: She teaches German literature and culture across all levels, including cross-period modules linking medieval and modern themes. Recent initiatives include a medieval-modern translation project and neurodiversity-focused pedagogy.