Henry Krongold was born in Poland, fled to Australia and became one of third country's leading businessmen and philanthropists. His memoirs contain a variety of strands. His escape to Australia during World War II from Nazi-occupied Poland took eighteen months.Krongold's business successes included hosiery (Charmaine and Schiaparelli), establishing Melbourne's first covered carpark (and its prize-winning Moomba floats), property development (he was an early owner of land on the Gold Coast) and carpets.