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A review by ginbott
The Hare With Amber Eyes: A Hidden Inheritance by Edmund de Waal
5.0
A well respected ceramist embarks on a journey to discover the origin of an inheritance of 264 netsuke. Perhaps this doesn't sound like the most interesting of stories, but stay with me.
This ceramist happens to be related to one of the most prosperous jewish banking families of Europe, and the netsuke (miniature japanese carvings) have survived and stayed in their possession throughout much of the 19th and entire 20th century.
De Waal imagines it will take him a few months to trace the path the netsuke take from that first purchase into his hands. In the end, he decides it's time to stop after 2 years. He travels, and takes the reader along with him, to Paris, Vienna, Japan, the Czech Republic and Russia. Along the way we learn the story of the Ephrussi family and their netsuke.
Their history is like a treasure chest, the number of famous artist and thinkers who feature in their lives is remarkable. This is not just a family history, it becomes an illustration of the history of modern Europe. A story about ambition, immigration, success, loss, assimilation, prejudice and persecution, this is a fascinating read.
A family scattered all over the world, linked through these beautiful tiny objects, de Waal draws you into their story and notes down his own journey of discovery brilliantly. We get to know these people along with him and they are drawn on the page in a wonderfully rich way. This is a family of extraordinary individuals:some spellbinding, others infuriating.
This is a read that will educate and captivate you. Intriguing, affecting, striking and heartbreaking at times, this is a read that will stay with you for a long time and in which the last word might be the most moving of all.
This ceramist happens to be related to one of the most prosperous jewish banking families of Europe, and the netsuke (miniature japanese carvings) have survived and stayed in their possession throughout much of the 19th and entire 20th century.
De Waal imagines it will take him a few months to trace the path the netsuke take from that first purchase into his hands. In the end, he decides it's time to stop after 2 years. He travels, and takes the reader along with him, to Paris, Vienna, Japan, the Czech Republic and Russia. Along the way we learn the story of the Ephrussi family and their netsuke.
Their history is like a treasure chest, the number of famous artist and thinkers who feature in their lives is remarkable. This is not just a family history, it becomes an illustration of the history of modern Europe. A story about ambition, immigration, success, loss, assimilation, prejudice and persecution, this is a fascinating read.
A family scattered all over the world, linked through these beautiful tiny objects, de Waal draws you into their story and notes down his own journey of discovery brilliantly. We get to know these people along with him and they are drawn on the page in a wonderfully rich way. This is a family of extraordinary individuals:some spellbinding, others infuriating.
This is a read that will educate and captivate you. Intriguing, affecting, striking and heartbreaking at times, this is a read that will stay with you for a long time and in which the last word might be the most moving of all.