About Me
My name is Niklas, I was born and raised in Germany.
I recently obtained my Master's degree in English and American Studies at the University of Kassel in the very center of Germany.
My final thesis, a cultural geographic reading of five postbellum novels about the American South, is titledThe Meaning of Southernness in Postbellum Fiction.
This is me...
I was born in '99, back in the old century (as my father still likes to point out). For 18 years I called the rural Sauerland region in the west of Germany my home before I ventured out to start my own life's journey.
Early on, my parents enabled me to widen my horizon for which I will forever be grateful. I learned to play the piano, play tennis, ski, to act, and I was given every opportunity to explore my interests in history, society, culture, and literature from a very young age.
During my school years, I was fortunate enough to stay with a wonderful family on Vancouver Island for five months and visit a Canadian high school. My love for the English language and North America has never faded since.
After graduating from school in Germany, I started studying English and American Studies, with a focus on North American literature, history, and culture at the University of Kassel. As part of my undergraduate experience, I spent one academic year at Oberlin College in Ohio.
I acquired my B.A. degree in 2023 and my M.A. degree in the late fall of 2024.
I invite you to check out both theses here.
During my university years, my love for literature, its intersections with culture and history, as well as my passion for writing have made me realize that what I really want to do is continue down the academic path and pursue a Ph.D., so that I can continue to do research and teach what I myself am passionate about.
"Read, read, read. Read everything - trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You'll absorb it.
Then write. If it's good, you'll find out. If it's not, throw it out of the window."
William Faulkner
Writing Samples About the US
M.A. thesis
B.A. thesis
Travelogue of US roadtrip
You have questions or want to reach out?
I would be happy to hear from you. You can find all ways to contact me under the link below.