Roger Willemsen (1955 – 2016) started out as a university lecturer, translator and London-based newspaper correspondent, before working as a television presenter, director and producer from 1991 onwards. He won numerous awards, among them the Adolf Grimme Gold Prize and the Prix Pantheon. Willemsen was honorary professor of literature at Berlin’s Humboldt University. His best-selling books Deutschlandreise (German Journey), Gute Tage (Good Days), Afghanische Reise (Afghan Journey), Kleine Lichter (Small Lights), Der Knacks (The Crack), Bangkok Noir , Die Enden der Welt (The Ends of the World), Momentum , and Das Hohe Haus (The High House) have been translated into many languages. A book, entitled Der leidenschaftliche Zeitgenosse (A Passionate Contemporary) and edited by Insa Wilke, discusses his wide-ranging work.