Henry Grinberg, born in London, was nine years old when World War II broke out and 15 when it ended. He emigrated to the United States in 1948. He taught literature and writing at the City College of New York and other institutions for 42 years and was a practicing psychoanalyst for 30. Now retired, he lives in New York with his wife, poet and writer Suzanne Noguere. His previous novel, Variations on the Beast, also takes World War II as its theme.
In 1938, Harry Glass is a precocious eight-year-old Jewish boy born and raised in London. Unconstrained by obedience, he is as much the despair of his immigrant parents as they are a puzzle to him. As, indeed, are almost all grown-ups—teachers, neighbours, everyone except his Aunt Lily. At times, ...