"What makes the book such a rich experience is that it's a combination of a biography of one man and his family, an absorbing psychological study, a history of the civil war and draft riots in New York City as seen from the eyes of a Jewish immigrant, and a vivid portrayal of anti-Semitism in Germany. Historically accurate and poignant, the book evokes a profound sense of time, place and character. The stunning black and white pictures add to the intrigue. With its meticulously researched details and the bare knuckles history of America, this story of human dreams, aspirations, and resilence has universal appeal. Peres has delivered a moving account of a Jewish immigrant's life."