Elys Griffiths

Dr. Elys Griffiths is a Reader in Modern Languages at the University of Birmingham, affiliated with the College of Arts and Law. They accept PhD students in German-language writing from the 20th to 21st centuries and have supervised doctoral work in German literature (1750-1850) and cinema.

• PhD in German Studies, University of Cambridge
• PG Cert HE, University of Birmingham
• Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Research focuses on German culture and society (1750-1850), emphasizing social/political tensions, Sturm und Drang, obedience conceptualizations, and transnational contexts. Current projects include a book on Kleist’s journalism and a transnational Sturm und Drang study. Their work aligns with UN SDGs for cultural preservation and historical understanding.

Recent publications include analyses of Heinrich von Kleist’s politics, Rousseau’s influence on Sturm und Drang, and August von Kotzebue’s theatricality. Keywords cluster around German literature, political philosophy, and transnational cultural studies.

• Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• Co-editor of German Life and Letters (Wiley)
• Future co-editor of Lenz-Jahrbuch (Wehrhahn-Verlag)

They actively supervise PhD students, review for journals, and organize academic events like the 'Transnationalizing the Sturm und Drang' conference. Collaborations span institutions in Germany, Austria, and Canada.