Irene Berman, a longtime West Hartford resident who now lives in Bloomfield, will hold a book talk and signing for the final book in her trilogy about the Holocaust.
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Irene Levin Berman. Courtesy photo
With the publication of her final book in her trilogy about the Holocaust, local author Irene Levin Berman has completed a personal journey.
In The Price of Survival: Marcus Levin, Norwegian Holocaust Humanitarian, the Bloomfield resident born and raised in Norway, tells of her father’s humanitarian efforts that impacted the lives of thousands of Norwegian Jews.
Berman’s father, Marcus Levin, was a humanitarian and tireless leader who worked with recovery organizations during and after World War II. His work involved supporting, documenting, funding, advocating for and resettling Norwegian Jews, refugees and stateless Jews. In The Price of Survival, Berman chronicles how her father overcame tremendous obstacles and deprivations. He was ultimately awarded Norway’s highest civilian award, the King Olav Gold Medal of Merit, for his remarkable achievements.
This book completes Berman’s powerful trilogy of Norway and the Holocaust. In her first book, a memoir, We Are Going To Pick Potatoes (2010), Berman exposed the untold story of the Holocaust in Norway after Nazi German invaded in 1940. Her second book, Norway Wasn’t Too Small (2016) was a fact-based story of the fate of two Jewish families through the lives of three young people – a young artist, a student and a talented musician – and their courageous struggles to survive.
Irene Berman and her family have distinguished themselves in service and dedication to Norway for more than 100 years. Berman portrays the occupation and post-war periods in Norwegian history using extensive primary source materials, research, and the personal experiences of her family and associates. Recently, a large collection of documents and letters from Marcus Levin’s humanitarian efforts has been discovered and released. “The Price of Survival is more than personal for me,” she says. “I believe it to be a definitive history covering Norway for the Jews post-war, never covered before.”
The book launch and signing takes place on Tuesday, April 16, at 4 p.m. in the Duncaster Meeting Room in Bloomfield, at 4 pm.
About Irene Levin Berman
Irene Berman was born, raised and educated in Norway, after which she moved to the United States as a young bride. Her first recollection of life back in 1942 was how, as a child, she had to escape with her family to Sweden, a neutral country. Germany had invaded Norway and the persecution of the two thousand Norwegian Jews had started. Seven hundred and seventy seven persons were deported and annihilated by the Germans, including seven members of her father’s family.
With her first book written in Norwegian and released in Norway in 2010, We Are Going To Pick Potatoes, Irene was supported by The Norwegian Resistance Museum in Norway. When she translated the book into English it found a “home” immediately in the United States. Irene has gained a large following of readers, many who were uninformed about the Holocaust in Norway. Her second book, Norway Wasn’t Too Small, grew her readership nationally. Irene has had the pleasure of traveling around the U.S. speaking with many organizations and universities, including people of many different nationalities and faiths, particularly among Norwegian Americans.
For more information, visit Berman’s website or email her at [email protected] or call 860-218-8280. Her book has been published by Hamilton Books and is available for purchase at www.rowman.com and www.amazon.com.
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