Intercultural encounters

Born on January 3, 1939, Rüdiger Ahrens studied English, French, Philosophy, and Pedagogy at Göttingen, Erlangen, and Dijon. After serving as an assistant professor at the University of Hannover, he became a full professor of English at the University of Trier in the 1970s. In 1980, he moved to the University of Würzburg, where he continues to teach English Cultural Studies and has held visiting professorships at institutions such as Cambridge, Tokyo, Nanchang, and Beijing. Ahrens has a deep interest in the cultural functions of literature, reflected in his extensive body of work. His critical writings range from his dissertation on Francis Bacon's essays to studies of Shakespeare and contemporary British drama, showcasing a rigorous inquiry into literary forms and their cultural contexts. He has also explored literary theory and the role of literature in intercultural education. The articles in this Festschrift, while only a fraction of Ahrens's broad scholarly contributions, engage with many of his central concerns, highlighting the significance of his work in the current landscape of English studies.