Set against the backdrop of early 20th-century America, the story follows Harry Bernstein and his mother as they escape their challenging life in England for a brighter future. Their journey begins with a mysterious gift of steamship tickets, leading them to Chicago, where they initially enjoy newfound comforts. However, the Great Depression brings harsh challenges, revealing family secrets and dangers. Amidst the turmoil, Harry's love for Ruby emerges, offering hope and fulfillment, ultimately realizing his mother’s dreams of a better life.
Harry Bernstein Book order
Harry Bernstein began writing in his nineties, turning to his past after the death of his wife to explore themes of prejudice, familial love, and overcoming adversity. His works delve into the complexities of identity and intergenerational relationships, reflecting a life marked by encounters with anti-Semitism and cross-cultural romance. Bernstein's prose is distinguished by its raw honesty and profound insight into the human condition, offering a unique perspective on resilience and the search for meaning. His writing ultimately celebrates the enduring power of the human spirit.






- 2009
- 2008
On a narrow cobbled street in a northern mill town young Harry Bernstein and his family face a daily struggle to make ends meet. But the regular pleas to relatives in Chicago yield nothing, until one day, when Harry is twelve years old, the family looks on astonished as he opens a letter which contains the longed-for steamship tickets.
- 2007
The Invisible Wall
- 336 pages
- 12 hours of reading
Harry Bernstein was born into a world of hardship and suffering in a northern mill town, in the shadow of the First World War.