About
Bruce J. Berger (born August 14, 1950) is an American lawyer, novelist, and teacher, the author of the Covo Family Saga (Forgiveness and Faith Novels): The Flight of the Veil, The Music Stalker, To See God, and (most recently) Forgiveness: A Novel.
Early Life
Berger was born in Passaic, New Jersey, and raised in Clifton, New Jersey.
Education
Berger graduated from Clifton High School in 1968; attended the University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT, where he earned a B.A. degree in Chemistry, With Honors, in 1972[1] and was elected to membership in Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi; attended Harvard Law School, where he graduated with a J.D. degree Cum Laude in 1975[2]; and attended American University from 2015-2018, from which he received an M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing. He began his formal study of creative writing in 2009 at Montgomery College.[3]
Legal Career
Berger served as a law clerk to the Hon. Judge John M. Wisdom, Fifth Circuit United States Court of Appeals, from 1975-76. From 1976-80, he was a Trial Attorney, Criminal Section, Civil Rights Division, United States Department of Justice. From 1980-83, he was an associate at the Washington, DC law firm, Crowell and Moring. From 1983-86, he was an Attorney, Enforcement Section, Lands and Natural Resources Division, United States Department of Justice. From 1986-2015, he was Partner at the Washington, DC law firm Hollingsworth LLP.[4] In 2015, Berger retired from the practice of law.
Academic Career
In 2017, Berger began teaching as an Adjunct Professorial Lecturer, in the Literature Department, Writing Studies Program, American University, Washington, DC.[5] In this capacity, he has taught both College Writing and Creative Writing Across the Genres.
Honors
Among other honors, Berger was an editor of the Harvard Law Review from 1973-74[6] and served as its Executive Editor from 1974-75.[7] He was awarded a Special Commendation for Outstanding Service for his work in the Civil Rights Division. He was awarded a Certificate of Outstanding Academic Achievement from American University in 2018.[8] His poem, “In the Last Room with My Father,” won Montgomery Magazine’s prize for Best Poem in 2018.
Personal Life
Berger married Laurinda Anderson in 1981, has two grown children and two grandchildren. He is Jewish and a Democrat.
Selected Book-Length Publications
The Flight of the Veil (Black Rose Writing 2020)[9]
The Music Stalker (Black Rose Writing 2021)[10]
To See God (Black Rose Writing 2023)[11]
Selected Short Story Publications
“June 1, 1967,” Black Lantern Review, 2009[12]
“Pilgrim State,” Wilderness House Literary Review, 2010[13]
“A Fool for a Client,” Stockholm Literary Review, 2022[14]
Selected Poetry Publications
“The Sephardic Congregation on Dennison Street,” Hevria, 2017[15]
“Lot’s Daughters,” Jewish Literary Journal, 2017[16]
“Anti-Memory,” Innisfree Poetry Journal, 2020[17]
[10] Black Rose Writing
[13] Sentinel Poetry
[14] The Stockholm Review
[15] Hevria
