Book description
SHORTLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR
Bert Trautmann is a football legend. He is famed as the Manchester
City goalkeeper who broke his neck in the 1956 FA Cup final and played
on. But his early life was no less extraordinary. He grew up in Nazi
Germany, where first he was indoctrinated by the Hitler Youth, before
fighting in World War Two in France and on the Eastern Front.
In 1945 he was captured and sent to a British POW camp where, for
the first time, he understood that there could be a better way of
life. He embraced England as his new home and before long became an
English football hero.
'Brilliant' Observer
'A remarkable story, well worth reading' The Times
'A gripping story of an unlikely redemption through football'
Sunday Times
'This poignant book is a tribute to the depth of both Clay's
research and her compassion' Independent
Catrine Clay has worked for the BBC for over twenty years, directing
and producing award-winning television documentaries, mainly for the
History Unit. She has written three previous books. Her most recent
book,
King, Kaiser, Tsar: Three Royal Cousins who Led the World to War
, was published in 2007 to high acclaim ('Proof that good storytelling
is a true art,' Caroline Moorehead,
Spectator
, 'Weird and wonderful,' Hilary Spurling,
Observer
). She is married with three children, and lives in London.
