The Hare with Amber Eyes Book Summary

In 'The Hare with Amber Eyes', Edmund de Waal embarks on a mesmerizing journey through the intertwined fates of his family and a remarkable collection of netsuke, tiny Japanese carvings. These delicate figurines, inherited from his great-uncle, serve as portals to a past filled with art, history, and the shadows of the Holocaust. De Waal's quest to uncover the stories behind the netsuke reveals the resilience of memory and the enduring ties of love and loss. As he uncovers his family's history, the narrative unfolds across continents and generations, highlighting the fragility of culture and identity. This evocative memoir compels readers to reflect on what we inherit, both tangible and intangible.

By Edmund de Waal

Published: 2011

"The past is not a series of events that happened, but a series of stories that we carry with us, shaping who we are."

Book Review of The Hare with Amber Eyes

Traces the parallel stories of nineteenth-century art patron Charles Ephrussi and his unique collection of 360 miniature netsuke Japanese ivory carvings, documenting Ephrussi's relationship with Marcel Proust and the impact of the Holocaust on his cosmopolitan family.

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The past is not a series of events that happened, but a series of stories that we carry with us, shaping who we are.

The Hare with Amber Eyes

By Edmund de Waal