Reinhard studied English, Politics and Economics at Cologne university. He holds a PhD in English Literature and Linguistics and taught at the universities of Cologne, Bristol, Palmerston North (NZ), Middlesex and Cambridge before joining the Foreign & Commonwealth Office where he spent the latter half of his career, managing and conducting pre-posting training for diplomats.
He now writes full-time. He is the author of BBC’s multi-media TV course Deutsch Plus and of BBC’s German Grammar. Other non-fiction books include a bi-lingual business dictionary (Langenscheidt publisher), a book on Intercultural Perspectives and a recent textbook on The Craft of Memoir Writing – A Brief Guide (2026).
His novels include Taking Time Out (2015) and My Parents Dark Room – Developing the Past (2019) and Blind Woman’s Buff (2022). He has also published two poetry anthologies, illustrated by John Tordoff, entitled What the Country Needs (2021) and Poetry Soup (2024).
A few words from the author:
Let me tell you a few things about myself. Not too much, but just enough. I was lucky that I grew up in post-war Germany at a time when food rationing had ended a while ago and the so-called economic miracle was about to start. There was usually just about enough food on the table for a big family – five kids, a grandmother, parents, a nanny and a sausage dog.
I love travelling. From the age of 15, I travelled all over Europe. It’s amazing what a welcome one receives when trying to speak other people’s languages, even at a basic level! As an adult I travelled further afield, feared for my life in taxi rides in Cairo, enjoyed hot food on the klongs of Bangkok and got lost in Fiordland’s forest in NZ.
Before I began my ‘serious life’ as an academic in England, I worked as a postman, drove a forklift truck in a factory and a seven ton lorry (which scared the life out of me). I’m a naturalised Brit and have signed the Official Secrets Act (am I allowed to say that?) Therefore you must never believe anything you read on this website. BTW I’m always reprimanded for not following instructions!
I agree with John Le Carré that ‘a good writer is an expert on nothing except himself. And on that subject, if he is wise, he holds his tongue.’