The Dream: A MemoirDuring 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. Then, one miraculous day when Harry is twelve years old, steamship tickets arrive in the mail, sent by an anonymous benefactor. Suddenly, a new life full of the promise of prosperity seems possible–and the family sets sail for America, meeting relatives in Chicago. For a time, they get a taste of the good life: electric lights, a bathtub, a telephone. But soon the harsh realities of the Great Depression envelop them. Skeletons in the family closet come to light, mafiosi darken their doorstep, family members are lost, and dreams are shattered. In the face of so much loss, Harry and his mother must make a fateful decision–one that will change their lives forever. And though he has struggled for so long, there is an incredible bounty waiting for Harry in New York: his future wife, Ruby. It is their romance that will finally bring the peace and happiness that Harry’s mother always dreamed was possible. |
Contents
Section 1 | 3 |
Section 2 | 10 |
Section 3 | 16 |
Section 4 | 24 |
Section 5 | 31 |
Section 6 | 41 |
Section 7 | 58 |
Section 8 | 69 |
Section 14 | 137 |
Section 15 | 143 |
Section 16 | 155 |
Section 17 | 165 |
Section 18 | 174 |
Section 19 | 189 |
Section 20 | 204 |
Section 21 | 214 |
Section 9 | 75 |
Section 10 | 86 |
Section 11 | 91 |
Section 12 | 110 |
Section 13 | 125 |
Section 22 | 229 |
Section 23 | 240 |
Section 24 | 247 |
Section 25 | 256 |
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Common terms and phrases
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