The official website of
Donald Granatstein
author of
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About
the Book
Leah is a narrative about Leah Granatstein’s attempt to reunite with her family in 1920s Toronto, and how her ill-fated endeavour reverberates through generations of her family. Leah examines the confluence of Jewish culture, Canadian immigration and the realities of mental illness in the 1920s. Further, it depicts how one family comes to terms with differences, secrecy, shame and a surprising legacy.
About Donald Granatstein
Donald Granatstein combines professional rigour and personal passion in recounting the story of his long-lost aunt, Leah. A practising lawyer for over fifty years, he holds a B.A., a LL.B., a Master of Laws, and is a qualified arbitrator. He also served as Chair of the City of Toronto’s Committee of Adjustments for eight years and continues to work as a mediator and arbitrator. These decades of experience in uncovering facts, weighing evidence, and crafting compelling narratives shape his approach to reconstructing Leah’s life.
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The writing of this book was driven by Granatstein’s fascination with Jewish history and the Holocaust, combined with a personal urge to uncover the mystery of a silenced family member. What started as a legal mind’s quest for proof turned into a profoundly human journey blending immigration history, cultural identity, the stigma of mental illness, and the enduring resilience of family.
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An award-winning writer known for his earlier journalism, Granatstein now applies his skills to historical storytelling, combining thorough research with imagination to honour those whose voices were lost to time. He lives in downtown Toronto with his wife, Joan, an avid reader, walker and photographer. Together, they enjoy supporting their daughter and grandchildren, whose curiosity and resilience continue to inspire his work.
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