BOOK LAUNCH | the boy in the barrel
wednesday 13 may 2026 | 6pm
A lost boy. A fractured family. A continent that will test them all.
Vilna, 1889. Eight-year-old Izzy Lieberman leaves his snow-covered homeland with only his father, escaping the pogroms and bound for a new life at the edge of the world - Cape Town, South Africa. But amid the chaos of the port, as tensions rise in the days before the Anglo-Boer War, Izzy’s father vanishes. In the confusion, Izzy is left behind - forgotten, frightened, and convinced he has been farfolen - thrown away.
Alone on the harsh streets of Cape Town, Izzy learns to survive among the city’s homeless boys who become his only family. Years later, drawn north to the diamond diggings of Kimberley, he toils under the blazing African sun with them, unearthing both fortune and sorrow.
Eleven years after his disappearance, the once-abandoned boy arrives in Johannesburg a man - scarred by hardship, hardened by survival - and comes face-to-face with the family he thought he had lost forever. And as Izzy stands on the threshold of a new life, he finally understands that even those who are lost can find their way home.
The Boy in the Barrel is a sweeping historical journey from Eastern Europe to the raw, restless soul of Africa - a story of survival, forgiveness, and the unbreakable bonds of family.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Eric Lieberman was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, during the years of Apartheid, a backdrop that quietly shaped his understanding of history, resilience, and identity. Educated in both public schools and a private Jewish school, he later earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree, though his passions would always extend far beyond the classroom.
A lifelong musician, Eric performed professionally as a drummer in one of South Africa’s most popular bands, where rhythm, collaboration, and storytelling became second nature. Nearly four decades ago, he settled in Los Angeles, California with his family, where he has built a life as a real estate investor and advisor, while continuing to pursue his creative instincts.
When he isn’t immersed in music or writing, Eric practices another lifelong fascination - as a magician - bringing curiosity, misdirection, and wonder into everything he does. This book marks the convergence of his love for history, family, and storytelling.