Hersh Dovid Nomberg (1876-1927) was one of a new wave of Yiddish writers who made a name for himself with his characteristically atmospheric short stories populated by artists, philosophers and other outcasts. Newly translated by Daniel Kennedy, Nomberg's stories explore modern Jewish life in the growing cosmopolitan city of Warsaw.
Set against the backdrop of war-torn East Africa, the story follows a headstrong helicopter pilot who reluctantly accepts a challenging mercenary contract. Tasked with delivering medical and famine relief aid, he must navigate the complexities of both armed protection and the demands of a determined Irish Nun. The narrative explores themes of resilience, duty, and the clash between personal freedom and the responsibilities of humanitarian work.
Ben Patrick finds himself freezing and empty handed on a January day in Missouri, 1850. His life is saved and eventually changed by a group of people who established their own way of living in changing America. Patrick is forced to leave his home in the south, and build a new life in a new America. His past refuses to leave him, but with the help of people very unlike himself, he changes his future.