The Hare With Amber Eyes: A Family's Century of Art and Loss

The Hare With Amber Eyes: A Family's Century of Art and Loss by Edmund de Waal
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the story of a family's history - of love, great wealth, and great loss. The author, de Waal, had been given, by his beloved Uncle Iggy, an exquisite collection of 264 tiny Japanese carvings called netsuke. Passed down through his Ephrussi family, who were at one time extravagantly wealthy Jewish bankers who hobnobbed with the Rothschilds, Impressionist painters, and Emperors, the netsuke finally ended up in his hands. de Waal researched his family through poor beginnings in Odessa, high times in Paris and Vienna, and when the family lost everything during Kristallnacht and the German occupation. Although the book starts slow, it picks up steam until it can't be put down -if you enjoy history this is definite read. I do wish more more pics of the netsuke were included.


Favorite quote: Objects have always been carried, sold, bartered, stolen, retrieved and lost. People have always given gifts. It is how you tell their stories that matters.

View all my reviews