Book SummaryThe Hare with Amber Eyes, by Edmund de Waal

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

The story explores the history of the Ephrussi family and the significance of their netsuke collection.

The Ephrussi family's rise to prominence within the Jewish financial elite of Europe.

The story explores the origins of the family, their rise to prominence, and the accumulation of their wealth and status, which took place in cities including Odessa and Paris.

The odyssey of the Ephrussi family began in Odessa, a bustling port city located in the region designated for Jewish settlement at the western edge of what was at the time Imperial Russia, distinguished by its vibrant Jewish cultural and religious life. Charles Joachim Ephrussi transformed a modest grain trading business into a vast international conglomerate. His expertise in the wheat trade amassed considerable wealth, resulting in his family earning the nickname the Monarchs of the Grain.

Driven by ambition and the pursuit of higher social status, Charles Joachim adeptly expanded his influence by establishing branches in major European cities, utilizing a strategy reminiscent of the methods employed by the renowned Rothschild family. In 1857, his elder sons were dispatched to Vienna, at the heart of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and there they carved out a substantial niche in the city's financial landscape. In the bustling heart of European culture and commerce, Léon, the family's eldest offspring, assumed the duties of establishing their new residence and broadening the scope of their financial enterprise. The move to bustling urban centers, specifically Paris and Vienna, signified more than just a change in location; it was a calculated display of power and aspiration, mirroring the Rothschilds' strategic expansion across Europe.

The family of Ephrussi cherished a collection of small Japanese sculptures called netsuke.

The way successive...

The Hare with Amber Eyes Summary The Ephrussi family encountered escalating hostility due to anti-Semitic sentiments, which significantly disrupted their lives, especially during the Second World War.

The Ephrussi household was thrown into chaos during the subsequent Nazi occupation.

The family's assets and real estate in Vienna were confiscated.

The writer powerfully portrays the significant transformations in the narrative of the Ephrussi family following their alliance with Austria and the subsequent Nazi dominance over the Austrian capital. He meticulously details the escalating bias that was infiltrating every stratum of Viennese society, manifesting in various forms ranging from antagonistic media reports to confrontations on city streets. Even though he was a loyal citizen who made valuable contributions to Austrian society, Viktor was subjected to exclusion, assaults, and was stripped of his achievements because of the animosity directed at wealthy, assimilated Jewish families.

The assets and possessions of the Ephrussi family were mercilessly confiscated, demonstrating the cold-hearted savagery of the Nazi regime. Edmund de Waal thoroughly chronicles the systematic looting of homes, businesses, and treasured collections. The construction of the Palais Ephrussi, emblematic of their rising status, can be attributed to the efforts of Viktor's progenitor;...

The Hare with Amber Eyes Summary The significance of acquiring art, maintaining familial heritage, and conveying memories in forming one's identity.

The Ephrussi family showcased their remarkable array of art and historical artifacts to affirm their social standing and communicate the significance of their heritage.

The family's opulent homes and lavish adornments were further distinguished by their esteemed compilation of artworks, which held significant symbolic value.

Edmund de Waal meticulously documents the Ephrussi family's passion for the arts, which goes beyond simply showcasing their wealth and status; it reflects their deep desire to be included and accepted in society. In Paris and Vienna, they embellished their lavish homes with an array of classical paintings, furnishings from the Italian Renaissance, and pioneering works of the Impressionist movement, creating a space that mirrored their refined tastes and status, intentionally surpassing their mercantile origins. The selection of materials, the arrangement of objects and furniture, and the traditions surrounding the display and conversation about these items reveal their deep desire to assimilate and their intense yearning to be accepted and included.

The author, de Waal, observes that portraying the heritage of his forebears...

The Hare with Amber Eyes Summary The author embarks on a personal journey to forge a connection with and comprehend the heritage of his forebears.

The author spent many years meticulously piecing together the narrative of the Ephrussi family and their collection of netsuke.

The detective work involved in piecing together fragmentary information from archives, documents, and personal accounts

The author skillfully weaves the narrative, transforming it into a quest that reveals his ancestors' history and simultaneously depicts a deeply personal endeavor to comprehend the substance of a legacy abundant with tangible and intangible riches. In Tokyo, he encountered the netsuke, igniting a profound fascination that led him to explore their historical significance. The author's journey of discovery takes...