The brilliant bildunsroman of a boy in a Denver Jewish orphanage was considered one of the best books of the year by the Irish Times. "Biderman is the Dickens of Denver." The Washington Post critic wrote: "A feast of a novel". The novelist's skill in capturing the community spirit of Jewish Denver in the 40's and 50's was praised by Elizabeth Bowen. The novel should have been called "When Elijah Wore Galoshes in Denver", according to Graham Greene. Bring Me to the Banqueting House is about the world of David Unicorn... Miss Cowbell, the matron who was both more and less than a mother...Rabbi Solomovsky, skilled in the trials of the spirit, bewildered by the travails of the flesh...Carlo, the gym teacher, who believed boys should have sexual initiation as early as possible, Dolores, the Mexican girl who knew only how to love...Naphtali, the Kabbalist, whose life was devoted to deciphering the symbols of God...Bootie Katzenelbogen, older in knowledge and in evil than his years. All were part of the world of the Jewish Foundling House, where David Unicorn underwent the painful, comic, universal rites of passage from childhood to manhood.