ADAM KAMIEN

ALMOST a year after his death at age 86, author Jacob Rosenberg’s final book, The Hollow Tree, was launched in Melbourne at the weekend.

Publisher Allen & Unwin described Mr Rosenberg’s final book, published posthumously, as “a parable of war and the unthinkable atrocities that humanity perpetrates in a time of cataclysmic social change”.

“The Hollow Tree is also a poignant story of love, war, and human resilience.”

Best known for his award-winning autobiographical book East of Time, Mr Rosenberg published several books of poetry in English -– his second language -– and another memoir, Sunrise West.

Mr Rosenberg’s daughter, Marcia Rosenberg, told The AJN that for her, the launch of The Hollow Tree was a “bittersweet occasion”.

“It’s going to be bittersweet because he’s not here to see the culmination of his work in print, but I am very proud because his very dear friends, who are also distinguished writers in their own right, are going to pay tribute to him,” Marcia said.

“He was so prolific in the last 10 years of his life, he produced a remarkable body of work … I just think there will be an outpouring of love for him, because he was an incredible guy.”

The Hollow Tree was launched at Beth Weizmann Community Centre on Sunday, October 18.