The Hare with Amber Eyes
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Description
The Anchsluss, followed by the Second World War, swept the Ephrussis to the brink of oblivion, and almost the only thing that remained of their vast empire was the netsuke collection, smuggled out of their huge Viennese palace (then occupied by Hitler's theorist on the 'Jewish Question'), one piece at a time, in the pocket of a loyal maid - and hidden in a simple straw mattress. In this stunningly original memoir, Edmund de Waal travels the world to stand in the great buildings his forebears once inhabited. He traces the lines of a remarkable family against the backdrop of a tumultuous century. And, in prose as elegant and precise as the netsuke themselves, he tells the story of a unique collection which passed from hand to hand - and which, in a twist of fate, found its way back home to Japan.
Discussions
I notice that The Reading Room posted the following comment: "This is one of the best books that we have read for a while, a fantastic combination of memoir, history, and art all in one book in a gripping narrative. Has anybody read another book that could be compared to this one?"
I agree wholeheartedly with The Reading Room and would like to re-iterate their question. If anyone has read a book that could compare with this one, I would love to know it!
This is one of the best books that we have read for a while, a fantastic combination of memoir, history, and art all in one book in a gripping narrative. Have anybody read another book that could be compared to this one?
hi, I want read the '' when the world wa green'' Joseph Chaikin and Sam Shepard online please help me , it is very important for me thanks
Some books stay with us forever, The Hare with Amber Eyes is one of them. This stunningly original memoir, traces the network of a remarkable family against the backdrop of a tumultuous century. Check our interview with Edmund de Waal and discover the one moment in his family history that he would have loved to witness in person.
A wonderful book by a talented writer. Part family memoir, part holocaust narrative, de Waal's meditations on the nature of our relationships with objects is fascinating -- what they displace in the world, what we choose to hold, to touch, how their loss affects us, and how they stand as metaphors for how we live. The narrative is framed by de Waal's quest to understand how a collection of netsuke's (the small, intricately carved Japanese objects used to weight the end of obis -- kimono belts), which he now owns, came into the family possession.
De Waal, who is an acclaimed potter, comes from an intriguing family. The once-fabulously wealthy began as grain merchants in Odessa and rose to international prominence as bankers at the center of the art world of Belle Epoque Paris (hobnobbing with Proust, Degas, Renoir and other such luminaries) and Vienna just prior to World War II. The author writes about their lives with imagination and elegance. His description of the moments when Vienna fell and the Palais Ephrussi, the family home (albeit an unusually grand one), was overrun by Gestapo is both heartbreaking and horrifying.
The last section of the book, dealing with the author's uncle in Japan is less evocative, and perhaps this is merely because it can't help but pale in comparison to the previous sections. Then, too, de Waal has a moment of odd crankiness when he snaps at a friend who questions his determination to keep the museum-worthy collection rather than return it to Japan. He states he has every right to keep the netsukes.
"No, I answer. 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."
Is this true? I don't think so, not entirely. The first part is undeniable, but the second -- that it is only the stories that matter -- I cannot agree with. I think of the sacred objects that have been stolen from First Nations people, for example, and I believe they should be returned. The fact people have always stolen, bartered or given them away is not moral justification. I do, as a writer, understand the power of stories, but cannot use this power to negate my responsibilities, not even if Renoir painted my ancestors, not even if Proust wrote about them.
Still, even with this criticism, it is a thought-provoking and interesting read. Highly recommended.
Lauren - yes, its is an incredible story. I think you have made a wider point though: separation of objects, designs, songs, customs etc from their true cultural context results in loss of meaning and significance, with the 'true' value 'lost'......I often groan when I see 'tribal tattoos' on people who perhaps have no idea of the real significance of the design, or halloween described as a 'North American' holiday tradition, with its true European roots and meaning 'lost'. Maybe this is globalization?....Ownership of anything is up for grabs. Thanks for responding. I really enjoyed your thought-provoking review of De Waals book.
TrainMan -- quite right. We are in accord on this. My only point was that De Waal had made a sweeping generalization that transcended this particular collection and seemed to include ALL objects. It is a remarkable story.
.....agreed - stories and sacred objects cannot be separated, but I think the link between sacred spiritual objects and the netsuke is somewhat tenuous - netsuke are common ornaments.....De Waal's family acquired these legitimately, formed a collection....and the story began for his family, now these objects have meaning to his family......wouldnt this incredible story be lost if these netsuke ended up in a museum in Japan?....would passer's by realise the significance of what they are looking at?.....the meaning of these netsuke has changed becuase of all that has happened to this collection,,,,,
