Perspective

"The Hare with Amber Eyes," is written in the first person. The author, Edmund de Waal, is a member of the once prominent Ephrussi family which had its roots in Odessa, Russia. As he relates the history of his family as it was revealed to him, the genuineness of his emotions is without question. The family was Jewish and enjoyed soaring successes in first the export business in Odessa and then later as the proprietors of hugely successful banking operations in the capitals of Europe. Despite their success, they suffered from the pain of anti-Semitism throughout the many decades covered in the book. As de Waal ventures on a hunt for the history behind a family treasure, a Japanese netsuke collection, he finds much more than he bargained for.

De Waal learns the story of distant relatives such as Charles who first purchased the collection in Paris. Charles...