This is the third book that Harry Bernstein has written about his life. The first one was absolutely the kind of book you just can’t put down, as he told of his early life in England before the first world war. It was so evocative of a time and place that is truly alien to us today.

His second book told the story of his family immigrating to the USA. And it was also fascinating. What grit they had to endure. And what a different kind of life Harry ended up creating for himself, his wife, and children, than he had in England. In the second book is a beautiful photograph of his wife staring up at Harry. I was struck by the expression of love on her face. You could see that this was an exceptional wife who clearly adored her husband, even after many years.

Now, in this third book, Golden Willow, we get two stories twined together: The story of Ruby and Harry’s long love and marriage, and the story of how Harry came to write these three books as he dealt with the grief of losing Ruby. What a moving story. Not only is it interesting as biography, and for the story itself, but it is written in a lovely prose. How I wish all of his other books that went unpublished over the years could now be published.

Harry Bernstein is a great writer, and Golden Willow is a truly fine book.