Book SummaryThe Hare with Amber Eyes, by Edmund de Waal

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of The Hare with Amber Eyes

The Hare with Amber Eyes is a memoir by Edmund de Waal that traces the history of his family, the Ephrussis, through a collection of Japanese netsuke figurines. The book explores themes of art, history, memory, and the impact of historical events on a prominent Jewish family in Europe. De Waal, a renowned ceramic artist, uses the netsuke as a lens to examine his family's journey from Odessa to...

The Hare with Amber Eyes Summary Historical and Cultural Context

De Waal explains that the Dreyfus Affair highlighted anti-Semitic tensions in France. This political scandal began in 1894 when Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish member of the French army, was falsely accused of espionage on behalf of Germany. He was convicted on forged evidence, and when the truth came out, the public was divided between those who supported Dreyfus and those who believed he was guilty because he was Jewish. The Ephrussis supported Dreyfus, which made them targets of anti-Semitic attacks.

(Shortform note: In Dreyfus, Ruth Harris explains that the Dreyfus Affair was a defining moment in French history because it coincided with the rise of mass media and a new class of “intellectuals” who felt it was their duty to intervene in public affairs. This created a perfect storm where a single case became a national debate about the role of Jews in French society. The Ephrussis, as prominent Jewish bankers, were caught in the crossfire of this debate, facing increased scrutiny and hostility.)

De Waal notes that the Ephrussi family rose to prominence in the 19th century through their grain business. They were Jewish merchants who lived...

The Hare with Amber Eyes Summary Netsuke: Relics and Witnesses

According to the author, the netsuke serve as witnesses to the family's past and experiences. These 264 small Japanese carvings have been passed down through generations of the Ephrussi lineage. They are a tangible link to the past, having been present during significant moments in the Ephrussi family’s history. Family members have handled, admired, and cherished them, and their journey mirrors the family's own journey through time and around the world.

(Shortform note: Long before Edmund de Waal, other writers have suggested that you can treat a possession as a kind of “witness” to history. In The Social Life of Things, Arjun Appadurai argues that you can trace the history of an object by examining how its economic value and social meaning change as it moves between different people and contexts.)

Next, we’ll explore how the netsuke traveled from Japan to Paris, Vienna, and Tokyo, and how handling them evokes...

Shortform Exercise: The Dreyfus Affair and the Ephrussi Family

Reflect on how the Dreyfus Affair influenced the Ephrussi family and their experiences of anti-Semitism.

How do you think the Dreyfus Affair highlighted societal attitudes towards Jews in France during that period?