MORRIS PLAINS, N.J., Sept. 14, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- War is a wretched state that no one ever wants to see, experience, or relive. It causes devastation to not only the place but also to the people caught in between. The warring parties are not the only victims; there are civilians and innocents who die in vain -- without a fight and without a voice. Some become victims of these circumstances; their loved ones who are caught in crossfire have to leave them behind. Author Bernard Hailperin witnessed such destructive forces of war when he was in Italy during World War II. In The Children of Vesuvius, he weaves a poignant story of what he saw during and after the war.
Hailperin invites readers to feel the harrowing life of living during and after a war through this tale of courage, love, and compassion. In this book, he captures a picture of a society desperate to survive the terror and destruction of WWII. It follows the lives of two brothers, Mario and Tony, who are orphaned when their parents were killed in the bombing of Naples, Italy. Mario is deaf but is compensated with magical qualities that are quite useful. Tony, as his older brother, watches over him and protects him. He courageously guides them through the underground ruins of the city. Two American soldiers, George and Harry, enter the underground where they befriend the boys and involve them in a series of adventures and misadventures. Together, they embark upon the impossible journey of surviving the chaos brought about by the war. But will they be able to live and survive the ordeals that are coming their way? Readers will find out as they take part in this journey.
Through this book, the author conveys the horrors, trauma, and aftereffects of war. It may be a fictional tale but an eye-opening read that everyone will enjoy. For more information on this book, log on to www.Xlibris.com.
About the Author
Bernard David Hailperin was born and raised in New Jersey. He is a graduate of the University of Iowa where he majored in English, Drama and Creative Writing. During his career, he taught English Literature, Drama and Speech at Parsippany Hills High School in New Jersey. As Director of the Forensics debate program at the high school in 1982, he was awarded the Coach of the Year Award in Forensics by the University of Pennsylvania. He also received a Presidential Citation from former President Richard Nixon for Excellence in Environmental Protection. His teaching career actively involved him as Title 1 Coordinator for New Jersey Public Schools. He successfully published a book on Title 1 programs and was cited by former Congressman Peter Rodino in the Congressional Record for his efforts. He has published articles in New Jersey Schoolmaster and several poems in the National Library of Poetry. The author has been an evaluator for the Paper Mill Playhouse of New Jersey, and has strongly promoted and selected each year's "Rising Star." Many of the New Jersey "Rising Stars" have gone on to perform on Broadway. He served in Italy during WWII, leaving him with many memories of orphaned children in Naples. He wrote this book because he could not forget what he experienced; and this novel is a tribute to those children. When he is not writing, he is sharing his lifetime of travel experiences with senior complexes and nursing homes. Hailperin currently resides in New Jersey with his wife, Sheila, and has a second novel in progress.
The Children of Vesuvius * by Bernard Hailperin
Publication Date: September 11, 2009
Trade Paperback; $19.99; 145 pages; 978-1-4415-5474-1
Trade Hardback; $29.99; 145 pages; 978-1-4415-5475-8
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