Walter Grünzweig, a native Austrian, has been professor for American Literature and Culture at TU Dortmund since 1994. His main fields of interests include 19^th century U.S.-American literature and culture and comparative literature with a focus on Charles Sealsfield, Walt Whitman and Ralph Waldo Emerson, transatlantic literary and cultural relations, international educational exchange and cultural education in a multi-ethnic context.

After his undergraduate studies at Ohio University in English and American literature, Walter Grünzweig continued his M.A. in English/American Studies and German Literature at Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, Austria, where he received his PhD (in American Studies and German Literature) in 1984 and his Habilitation (in American Studies and Comparative Literature) in 1989. Before coming to TU Dortmund, he taught American literature and culture at Graz and TU Dresden. A recipient of a variety research grants (including DAAD, Fulbright, Humboldt, American Council of Learned Societies), he was awarded the Excellence of Teaching Award (Ars-Legendi-Preis) by the German Rectors Conference and the Stifterverband in 2010. He has widely taught internationally at Université Cheikh Anta Diop, Klagenfurt, Maribor, State University of New York at Binghamton, Leipzig, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Trieste, University of Iowa and is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Pennsylvania and the State University of New York at Binghamton.

In the area of Urban Scripts, his main interest focuses on the (historical) cultural contexts of urban reconstruction narratives. He has located the 19th century origin of the term „creative class“ (in Ralph Waldo Emerson) and is working on a critique of the notion of culture in current urban scripts.  

For further information on his academic activities and publications click here.

Contact: walter.gruenzweig@udo.edu