I read this book a few months back and have been thinking about it ever since. The prose is beautiful and allows for space and breath as de Waal unravels his family history using the inheritance of netsuke, miniature ivory sculptures. The book is a vessel for family memory and it feels as if the story chose Edmund de Waal to tell it.
I loved the Paris Edmund De Waal invokes -the golden streets of the Belle Epoque through the eyes of Charles his ancestor who he claims is the model for Proust's Swann - wishing to be a fly on the wall or at least have a good look around the fabulous apartment that Charles furnishes to his heart's desires.
It is also very powerful how de Waal unfolded the beginning of WW2 in Vienna, horrific really how quickly a world can turn upside down. My stomach lurched through these pages, and I felt that de Waal's grandmother Elizabeth was the true 'hero' of the story in many ways, though somehow down played in the writing, the facts speak for themselves of her bravery.
I only wished for it to be illustrated with all the wonderful photographs and portraits and netsuke that de Waal paints in his pages - so I was glad at least the US cover has them on the cover.
A beautiful book.
4 comments:
I must read this book, after such a recommendation, especially given the references to WW2. Thanks.
I am sure you won't be disappointed - he speaks very eloquently too - if you can find the podcasts
This book has been lent to me highly recommended by a friend and is sitting on my bedside table waiting for me to read...looking forward to it!
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