About Seán
I spend my time rummaging through books and wandering across Europe, searching for cultural stories from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. I’m especially drawn to where they border Britain and Ireland (my nationalities), as well as the Netherlands and Italy (where I've also lived).
On this site, I’ve selected examples of my media work. I’ve presented critically-acclaimed documentaries and discussion shows on BBC radio, produced podcasts, and spoken on TV formats sold around the world. I write for international newspapers and magazines (in English and German). Commissioned by arts, travel, literature, and history desks, I enjoy reviewing exhibitions, talking to leading figures (whether authors, royalty, or celebrities), going on quirky trips, and giving public talks at festivals and evening events — all from the perspective of cultural history. I often include archival research, historical images, and sources specially translated into English.
I’m Senior Lecturer in German and European Cultural History in the School of Languages and Cultures at the University of Sheffield, UK. Previously, I’ve taught German and Comparative Literature at the University of Bern in Switzerland. I was educated in the state school system in rural England. I then graduated with a Congratulatory First, and later a master's with Distinction and a DPhil from the University of Oxford. I've also studied in Trier, Germany, and Berkeley, California. I’ve since held visiting fellowships in Germany, Italy, Norway, Switzerland, and the USA. In Britain, my research has been funded by the Arts & Humanities Research Council, Wellcome Trust, and Worldwide Universities Network.
Contact Seán
If you have a story to share, or you’d like me to work with you in telling one, I’m curious to hear from you. I have recently collaborated with Iconic Hotels, Walpole, and Phorest FM, among others.