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Ronald Reng's biography of Robert Enke wins William Hill's Sports Book of the Year
The look at the Germany international goalkeeper, who suffered from depression before tragically committing suicide, has been praised for its powerful and insightful nature
28 Nov 2011 17:34:00
By Alex Richards
Journalist Ronald Reng has been announced as the winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award for 2011 for his biography of former Germany and Hannover goalkeeper Robert Enke, entitled: A Life Too Short: The Tragedy of Robert Enke.
A Life Too Short examines the life and untimely death of Enke, a former Barcelona and Benfica shot-stopper, on the verge of representing his country at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, who, from the outside, appeared to have it all.
The book tells the tragedy of Enke’s struggles against depression (Enke was secretly using anti-depressants through the last months of his life but had long since struggled with the illness) and his own demons, until he ended his own life on a train-track in November 2009.
First published in Germany (as Robert Enke: Ein allzu kurzes Leben), Reng's book became an international bestseller. From there it was translated into English by Shaun Whiteside and published this autumn. It has now become the first translated title to have won the prize.
William Hill spokesman and co-founder of the prize, Graham Sharpe, said: "Robert Enke was one of Germany's greatest goalkeepers and his tragic death shocked the world. Ronald Reng's intimate portrait - vivid, powerful and moving - is an outstanding piece of sportswriting and a very worthy winner of the prize".
Accepting the award today at Piccadilly’s flagship branch of Waterstone’s, Reng said: "I wrote this book so that something of Robert Enke will remain. I hope it will tell people what a nice person he was, and what a terrible illness depression is.
Reng was named the winner of the 23rd William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award at a lunchtime ceremony. As well as a £23,000 cheque, he receives a £2,000 William Hill bet, a hand-bound copy of his book, and a day at the races.
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A Life Too Short examines the life and untimely death of Enke, a former Barcelona and Benfica shot-stopper, on the verge of representing his country at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, who, from the outside, appeared to have it all.
The book tells the tragedy of Enke’s struggles against depression (Enke was secretly using anti-depressants through the last months of his life but had long since struggled with the illness) and his own demons, until he ended his own life on a train-track in November 2009.
First published in Germany (as Robert Enke: Ein allzu kurzes Leben), Reng's book became an international bestseller. From there it was translated into English by Shaun Whiteside and published this autumn. It has now become the first translated title to have won the prize.
William Hill spokesman and co-founder of the prize, Graham Sharpe, said: "Robert Enke was one of Germany's greatest goalkeepers and his tragic death shocked the world. Ronald Reng's intimate portrait - vivid, powerful and moving - is an outstanding piece of sportswriting and a very worthy winner of the prize".
Accepting the award today at Piccadilly’s flagship branch of Waterstone’s, Reng said: "I wrote this book so that something of Robert Enke will remain. I hope it will tell people what a nice person he was, and what a terrible illness depression is.
"You can’t fight it in the way you might fight cancer. You are left alone and can’t do anything about it."
| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
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