Dr. Volker Mertens

Biography

Volker Mertens is a professor emeritus at the Free University of Berlin, specializing in older German literature and language. His academic journey includes studying Germanic studies, English studies, folklore, and philosophy across various universities including Freiburg, Göttingen, Vienna, Munich, and Würzburg. He received his state examination in 1962, attained his doctorate in 1967, and completed his habilitation in 1976. Mertens held numerous academic positions including lecturer in Glasgow and as a scientific assistant at Würzburg. He became a private lecturer at Würzburg in 1975 and a full professor at Free University of Berlin starting in 1977. His research interests focus on courtly and late medieval epics and lyric poetry, spiritual literature particularly in the context of sermons, and the reception of medieval literature in modern times. Mertens has held guest professorships internationally, contributing significantly to the field through his publications including several books and numerous articles on various aspects of German literature from the medieval period to the early modern era. His work includes substantial contributions to the understanding of Richard Wagner and the opera culture of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Research Interests