From humble beginnings, Harry's life was one of hard toil and hardship. I first became interested in Harry Bernstein after reading his obituary in a national paper and realised what an interesting person he was. Full of humor, drama, and romance, this tale of hope and dreams coming true enthralls and enchants. The Dream by Harry Bernstein is an extremely engaging book that grabs the reader's interest right from the beginning. With a compelling cast and evocative settings, Harry Bernstein’s extraordinary account of his hardscrabble youth in Depression-era Chicago and New York will grip you from the very first page.

It is their romance that will finally bring the peace and happiness that Harry’s mother always dreamed was possible. And though he has struggled for so long, there is an incredible bounty waiting for Harry in New York: his future wife, Ruby. In the face of so much loss, Harry and his mother must make a fateful decision–one that will change their lives forever. Then, one miraculous day when Harry is twelve years old, steamship tickets arrive in the mail, sent by an anonymous benefactor. Skeletons in the family closet come to light, mafiosi darken their doorstep, family members are lost, and dreams are shattered. During the hard and bitter years of his youth in England, Harry Bernstein’s selfless mother never stops dreaming of a better life in America, no matter how unlikely. But soon the harsh realities of the Great Depression envelop them. For a time, the family gets a taste of the good life: electric lights, a bathtub, a telephone. Harry is mesmerized by the city: the cars, the skyscrapers, and the gorgeous vistas of Lake Michigan. Suddenly, a new life full of the promise of prosperity seems possible–and the family sets sail for America, meeting relatives in Chicago. Then, one miraculous day when Harry is twelve years old, steamships tickets arrive in the mail, sent by an anonymous benefactor. But she never stops dreaming of a better life in America, no matter how unlikely. Our mother invented them for us to make up for all the things we lacked and to give us some hope for the future.”ĭuring the hard and bitter years of his youth in England, Harry Bernstein’s selfless mother struggles to keep her six children fed and clothed. “Dreams played an important part in our lives in those early days in England.