Letters to Camondo

£9.99

Count Moïse de Camondo lived a few doors away from Edmund de Waal’s forbears, the Ephrussi, first encountered in his bestselling memoir ‘The Hare with Amber Eyes’. Like the Ephrussi, the Camondos were part of Belle Époque high society. They were also targets of ugly anti-semitism. Camondo created a spectacular house and filled it with the greatest private collection of French eighteenth-century art for his son to inherit. But when Nissim was killed in the First World War, it became a memorial and, on the Count’s death, was bequeathed to France. The Musée Nissim de Camondo has remained unchanged since 1936. Edmund de Waal has explored this beautiful palace; the lavish rooms, exquisite objects and detailed archives. In a haunting series of letters, he writes to the Count, and gets to know the boy who journeyed from Constantinople and became a model French citizen, before all that was gained was torn away.

In stock

Description

From the author of the bestselling phenomenon The Hare with Amber Eyes

As you may have guessed by now, I am not in your house by accident. I know your street rather well.

The Camondos lived just a few doors away from Edmund de Waal’s forebears. Like de Waal’s family, they were part of belle époque high society. They were also targets of anti-Semitism.

Count Moïse de Camondo created a spectacular house filled with art for his son to inherit. Over a century later, de Waal explores the lavish rooms and detailed archives and, in a haunting series of letters addressed to Camondo, he tells us what happened next.

‘Illuminating… A wonderful tribute to a family and to an idea’ Guardian

‘Letters to Camondo immerses you in another ageDazzling’ Financial Times

Additional information

Weight 322 g
Dimensions 200 × 136 × 18 mm
Author

Publisher

Imprint

Cover

Paperback

Pages

182

Language

English

Edition
Dewey

707.5 (edition:23)

Readership

General – Trade / Code: K