Good Night,Little Boy
“He longs for freedom. But what if freedom means leaving behind everything he has ever known?”
The story
Medieval France, and a boy who wants a different life.
Nissim grows up in the warmth of a close-knit Jewish family. His father is determined to preserve the traditions that have carried his people through the centuries — and cannot understand his son’s burgeoning artistic ambitions.
As persecution intensifies and the church and French crown impose ever harsher restrictions on Jewish life, the world outside begins to look like freedom. Then the expulsion comes.
The full descriptionWhy this book
Rich in historical detail and emotional depth — an intimate, haunting novel about faith, identity, family, and the timeless human desire to belong
The author
Milton Verskin
After a career in the practice of law, Milton Verskin returned to the writing he had loved all his life. Good Night, Little Boy is his debut novel.
Read his story
The book
Good Night, Little Boy
A novel of faith, family, and the cost of freedom in medieval France.
He longs for freedom. But what if freedom means leaving behind everything he has ever known?
Nissim grows up in the warmth of a close-knit Jewish family in medieval France. His father, determined to preserve the traditions that have sustained his people through the centuries, cannot understand his son’s burgeoning artistic ambitions.
As persecution intensifies and the church and French crown impose increasingly harsh restrictions on Jewish life — culminating in the expulsion of the Jews of France — Nissim finds himself drawn to the freedom the outside world seems to promise, even if embracing it means leaving behind everything he has ever loved.
Rich in historical detail and emotional depth, Good Night, Little Boy is an intimate and haunting novel about faith, identity, family, and the timeless human desire to belong.
Where to buy
On the cover. The gold circle set into the title is a rouelle — the round badge that Jews in medieval France were required to wear on their clothing, imposed across the kingdom from the thirteenth century onward. The expulsion at the heart of the novel followed in 1306, when Philip IV ordered the Jews of the royal domain arrested, dispossessed, and driven out.
The author
Milton Verskin
A lawyer who spent a lifetime waiting to write this book.
After retiring from the practice of law, Milton Verskin turned to his lifelong passion for writing. Good Night, Little Boy is his debut novel.
A lover of classical music and an amateur pianist, Milton also enjoys reading widely — from novels and history to philosophy and anything else that captures his imagination. He and his wife spend many happy hours taking long walks together, and they both enjoy time with their grandchildren, who live just five minutes away.
Many of the interests and values that have shaped his life — music, family, history, and the search for meaning — find their way into the pages of his fiction.
- DebutGood Night, Little Boy, a novel of medieval France
- BeforeA career in the practice of law
- At homeThe piano, long walks, and grandchildren five minutes away
- ReadingNovels, history, philosophy, and whatever else catches his eye
Read the book
The story of Nissim, his father, and a family holding on as the ground shifts beneath them.
About Good Night, Little BoyContact
Write to Milton
Readers, booksellers, book clubs, and interviewers are all welcome. Every message goes straight to his inbox.
Before you write
If you’re inviting Milton to speak with your book club or event, it helps to include a date, a rough group size, and whether you’d like him in person or by video.
Booksellers and reviewers: mention what you need — review copies, signed stock, or an interview — and he’ll pass it to the right person.
Replies usually take a few days.
Message sent
Thank you for writing. Milton reads everything that comes through, and will reply to the address you gave.
Back to the beginning