House of Glass: The story and secrets of a twentieth-century Jewish family
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- Create Date：2021-04-04 13:51:19
- Update Date：2025-09-06
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- Author：Hadley Freeman
- ISBN：000832266X
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Summary
A writer investigates her family’s secret history， uncovering a story that spans a century， two World Wars， and three generations。
Hadley Freeman knew her grandmother Sara lived in France just as Hitler started to gain power， but rarely did anyone in her family talk about it。 Long after her grandmother’s death， she found a shoebox tucked in the closet containing photographs of her grandmother with a mysterious stranger， a cryptic telegram from the Red Cross， and a drawing signed by Picasso。
This discovery sent Freeman on a decade-long quest to uncover the significance of these keepsakes， taking her from Picasso’s archives in Paris to a secret room in a farmhouse in Auvergne to Long Island to Auschwitz。 Freeman pieces together the puzzle of her family’s past， discovering more about the lives of her grandmother and her three brothers， Jacques， Henri， and Alex。 Their stories sometimes typical， sometimes astonishing—reveal the broad range of experiences of Eastern European Jews during Holocaust。
This thrilling family saga is filled with extraordinary twists， vivid characters， and famous cameos， illuminating the Jewish and immigrant experience in the World War II era。 Addressing themes of assimilation， identity， and home， this powerful story about the past echoes issues that remain relevant today。
Hadley Freeman knew her grandmother Sara lived in France just as Hitler started to gain power， but rarely did anyone in her family talk about it。 Long after her grandmother’s death， she found a shoebox tucked in the closet containing photographs of her grandmother with a mysterious stranger， a cryptic telegram from the Red Cross， and a drawing signed by Picasso。
This discovery sent Freeman on a decade-long quest to uncover the significance of these keepsakes， taking her from Picasso’s archives in Paris to a secret room in a farmhouse in Auvergne to Long Island to Auschwitz。 Freeman pieces together the puzzle of her family’s past， discovering more about the lives of her grandmother and her three brothers， Jacques， Henri， and Alex。 Their stories sometimes typical， sometimes astonishing—reveal the broad range of experiences of Eastern European Jews during Holocaust。
This thrilling family saga is filled with extraordinary twists， vivid characters， and famous cameos， illuminating the Jewish and immigrant experience in the World War II era。 Addressing themes of assimilation， identity， and home， this powerful story about the past echoes issues that remain relevant today。
Reviews
Celia Morse
，
This is the remarkable story of four Jewish siblings who fled from the pogroms of rural Poland to Paris in the 1930s only to be trapped in occupied France under the Germans。 Amazingly only one member of the immediate family was lost while the other two brothers survived the war and thrived in postwar Paris and the sister escaped too America and married。 Events were pieced together by a granddaughter who found a shoebox of momentos at the back of her grandmother's closet after her death。 This is This is the remarkable story of four Jewish siblings who fled from the pogroms of rural Poland to Paris in the 1930s only to be trapped in occupied France under the Germans。 Amazingly only one member of the immediate family was lost while the other two brothers survived the war and thrived in postwar Paris and the sister escaped too America and married。 Events were pieced together by a granddaughter who found a shoebox of momentos at the back of her grandmother's closet after her death。 This is meticulously researched and a fascinating story of survival against all odds but the book also includes a lot of history of the persecution of the European Jews in the 20th century and it is not a quick or easy read。 。。。more
Sarah
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This is a story！ A brilliant book， so well written。 Compelling family characters that lived lives of such contrast in the 20th century。 Ms Freeman has constructed a book that follows the well-trod paths for Jews worldwide， whilst telling a story that surprises and compels you to follow their journey。 Wonderful stories of a family that endured so much but gave even more。 The best book I have read for ages。 You did Sala， Alex， Henri and Jacques proud Hadley ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Esme Westcott
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It was enlightening， but a difficult read at times。 Good to have a new perspective， though。
Sally
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This was amazing。 The story of 4 siblings， written by the granddaughter of one of them。 Escaping the pogroms in Poland by running to Paris just in time for WWII， you learn how the family became families， and what happened to them and theirs。 Beautifully told， a book I wanted to devour but made myself leave space for， the stories within deserve it。
Lexi Hadfield
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Some interesting parts but found myself skimming lots of it
Hilary
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This memoir about searching for her Jewish family's history from Austria-Hungary （now Poland） to their emigration to France before WWII was fascinating。 Four siblings and their mother moved to Paris to make better lives for themselves。 One became a well-known fashion designer and then art dealer who hobnobbed with the best of the best e。g。， Christian Dior。 Ms。 Freeman is the granddaughter of Sala/Sara Glass who seems to have been more or less forced to move from France to the U。S。 to marry a man This memoir about searching for her Jewish family's history from Austria-Hungary （now Poland） to their emigration to France before WWII was fascinating。 Four siblings and their mother moved to Paris to make better lives for themselves。 One became a well-known fashion designer and then art dealer who hobnobbed with the best of the best e。g。， Christian Dior。 Ms。 Freeman is the granddaughter of Sala/Sara Glass who seems to have been more or less forced to move from France to the U。S。 to marry a man she barely knew and had nothing in common with。 Sala was sad， mysterious， and hardly able to assimilate herself into society in this country。 Two siblings who stayed behind in Paris survived the war， one died in Auschwitz。 They had assimilated so much and instead of appreciating their Jewish， they assimilated even more into French society and didn't even raise their children as Jews。 The author was raised in the states and had a Bat Mitzvah where most relatives came from France to attend。 It didn't seem as if they kept in touch much after that。 A lot of the story was interesting， but some was a bit tiresome and boring。 I do think that if the author hadn't been a well-known journalist， she definitely wouldn't have been able to discover all these details。 She seems rather detached: as if she were researching someone else's family rather than her own。 It is good for her children to have this written history of their family。 。。。more
Samantha
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4。5 stars
David Partikian
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Hadley Freeman’s “House of Glass” serves well as a personal introduction to the Holocaust。 However， for an astute， knowledgeable reader it is a mere recap of 20th Century Atrocity。 Readers versed in Hanna Arendt or the statistics of annihilation and how each European country measured up in those appalling metrics know all too well of the collective kowtowing in lockstep by Eastern and Western European nations to lick Hitler’s anus: Poland gets an F， France gets a C- etc。 These readers do not nee Hadley Freeman’s “House of Glass” serves well as a personal introduction to the Holocaust。 However， for an astute， knowledgeable reader it is a mere recap of 20th Century Atrocity。 Readers versed in Hanna Arendt or the statistics of annihilation and how each European country measured up in those appalling metrics know all too well of the collective kowtowing in lockstep by Eastern and Western European nations to lick Hitler’s anus: Poland gets an F， France gets a C- etc。 These readers do not need the Glah’s （of Glass） family history to learn that Western Christian society has a lot of explaining to do， most of it a colossal F for fail。The literary “Go To” for investigative 21 Century Holocaust， fitting-in-the-lacunae memoir sleuthing， remains W。G。 Sebald’s “Austerlitz。” Sebald intersperses black and white photos with a text that continually references the photos。 This technique has become de rigueur for memoir writers today （e。g。 Patti Smith） and remains one of the top books of the 21st Century。While the chapters on France and Haute Couture are informative—Hadley Freeman’s cousin was a world-renown French designer who was a close friend with Christian Dior—a standard history of Dior is， perhaps， more so。 The standard works that chronicle the lower East Side in Manhattan and the Long Island diaspora （again W。G。 Selbald， this time with his “The Emigrants”） eclipse this Holocaust synopsis。 For Long Island alienation， a biography of Lou Reed does the trick。 Perhaps I am being mean。 The book does hold the attention of the reader and gives the history （and murder） of a family from Poland to France to the USA。 And there is something to be learned from the chapters on France， the Resistance and Collaboration; such chapters are always subtly imbued in ample ambiguity， much like the head-scratching ramblings of Nobel winner Patrick Modiano。 Author Hadley Freeman is one of the more entertaining and perspicacious columnists for The Guardian。 Her courageous and singular defense of Woody Allen—along with my girlfriend’s reading of this book—is why House of Glass” jumped to the head of the line of my To Read Pile。 。。。more
Eileen Gebbie， Reverential
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A good book， offering a strong introduction to the history and the ongoing presence of anti-Semitism。 We could easily， right here and right now in the U。S。， experience just what Freedman's family did: reduction of rights， imprisonment， and execution of people who are Jewish。 Let's make sure we do not。 A good book， offering a strong introduction to the history and the ongoing presence of anti-Semitism。 We could easily， right here and right now in the U。S。， experience just what Freedman's family did: reduction of rights， imprisonment， and execution of people who are Jewish。 Let's make sure we do not。 。。。more
Maarten
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Absolutely captivating。 This is not just another retelling of the Holocaust， as the author looks beyond the deeds of evildoers and the suffering of their victims。 Instead she focuses her true story on the moral shades of the collaboration， and the complexities of identity and belonging。 And on how each individual's own choices still shaped their future， amidst the most overwhelming events in recent history。 A fiction writer couldn't make this up。 Absolutely captivating。 This is not just another retelling of the Holocaust， as the author looks beyond the deeds of evildoers and the suffering of their victims。 Instead she focuses her true story on the moral shades of the collaboration， and the complexities of identity and belonging。 And on how each individual's own choices still shaped their future， amidst the most overwhelming events in recent history。 A fiction writer couldn't make this up。 。。。more
Bryony
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I usually joke that there is nothing more boring than someone else's family history。 This book proved me wrong tenfold！I've enjoyed Hadley Freeman's writing for years as a Guardian journalist and her easy and fluid style lends itself perfectly to this epic （and it really is epic） account of her Jewish family's journey through the twentieth century。 The book begins like a detective story as Hadley discovers a shoebox full of postcards and other items that lead to her discovering amazing things ab I usually joke that there is nothing more boring than someone else's family history。 This book proved me wrong tenfold！I've enjoyed Hadley Freeman's writing for years as a Guardian journalist and her easy and fluid style lends itself perfectly to this epic （and it really is epic） account of her Jewish family's journey through the twentieth century。 The book begins like a detective story as Hadley discovers a shoebox full of postcards and other items that lead to her discovering amazing things about her family's story。 There is the exuberant Uncle Alex who was a fashion designer for whom Christian Dior was an illustrator and who in later life befriended Picasso - he is part of the resistance in wartime France。 There is the ill-fated Uncle Jacques who was less fortunate along with Hadley's long suffering grandmother Sala who was sent to America to save the family as well as a host of other people， all with a unique story to tell。This is a story of the Jewish experience of the twentieth century seen through the eyes of a beloved granddaughter。 Although it's personal， Hadley is writing about her own family， she is not afraid to critique and analyse what was going on - particularly in regard to what people did to protect themselves in Vichy France。Everyone should read this book， it is exciting， shocking and at the same time about an ordinary family that squabbles and irritates each other。 An amazing history of the twentieth century that needs to be heard。A final point is that Hadley writes as a fashion journalist: the later chapter about Alex Maguy is a fascinating history of Haute Couture in Paris and its demise。 。。。more
mr m w scott
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A thoughtful book that grips from start to endThis book has been written with huge intelligence and generosity of spirit。 The story it tells of Jewish and human suffering could drive one mad with despair， but Hadley Freeman has somehow managed to deliver if not a positive message then one that’s not without hope for us all。 The amount of research she’s done is awesome。 I often had to pause while reading “House of Glass” to take in the often ghastly events described。 But at other times I paused t A thoughtful book that grips from start to endThis book has been written with huge intelligence and generosity of spirit。 The story it tells of Jewish and human suffering could drive one mad with despair， but Hadley Freeman has somehow managed to deliver if not a positive message then one that’s not without hope for us all。 The amount of research she’s done is awesome。 I often had to pause while reading “House of Glass” to take in the often ghastly events described。 But at other times I paused to smile。 I’m very glad to have read this book and will never forget it。 。。。more
Kiana
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By far one of the best examinations of what it meant to be Jewish in 20th century Europe and how that identity shapes Jewishness today。 A must read！
Ann Brogan
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I’ve been a fan of Hadley Freeman’s columns in the Guardian for ages， so it was a given that I would read this biography of her grandmother’s family during the 20th century。 It’s fantastic - especially the incredible story of her great-uncle Sender Glahs aka Alex Maguy， which could have been written by Judith Kranz。 Highly recommended。
Martha Leigh
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This is a fascinating account of a Polish -Jewish family two generations back， who fled to France and the USA just before the onset of World War 2。 It combines in-depth research with extraordinary events and characters， giving a very rounded picture of Jewish identity and how this has affected the author herself。
Tuvy
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Beautifully written。 I’m amazed by how much detail Freeman was able to gather to tell her family’s story。
Jane Edwards
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A very interesting history of the Glass family from Poland to Paris and New York。 Their survival is remarkable， despite being persecuted by the Poles and badly betrayed by the French。
Darragh Kelly
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Terrific read。。。poignant， engaging and informative。 Really enjoyed it。。。
Anna Greenberg
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Very interesting story but I found the history lessons to be a bit pedantic。 I suppose if you know nothing about the Holocaust or Vichy it will be fine。
Adele
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Absolutely outstanding。 Probably one of the most incredible & important memoirs I will ever read， such an unbelievable story but totally believable at the same time。 Highly recommend it。
Jim Willse
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A brilliant work of personal journalism and historical research。 Twenty years in the making， it really should have attracted more notice in the US when it was published a year ago。 Compelling， involving， memorable。
Gemma Hildred
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A very well written memoir giving a new and personal perspective on such recent history。 It is clearly well researched with good analysis on the different sources （and people）， which makes it all the more compelling to read。 Would highly recommend。
Steph Pomfrett
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Phenomenal。 Also slightly obsessed with Hadley's Aunt Sonia。 Phenomenal。 Also slightly obsessed with Hadley's Aunt Sonia。 。。。more
Farleigh Wolfe Lichstein
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10 stars。 This is a beautifully written， moving history of Hadley Freeman’s family。 Truly phenomenal。 It is an affecting， complex and impressive book， one of the best I’ve read。
Emily
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Very interesting historic memoir。
Helen Bussell
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I enjoy Hadley Freeman’s articles in the Guardian and this book is written in an easy to read， journalistic style。 I have read many family histories of Holocaust survivors。 This one stands out as it covers the lives of 4 siblings across the entire 20th century， each with an interesting story。 It differs from others in that it takes in their children and grandchildren so you can see the effects on future generations。 I would recommend reading this in a hard copy version rather than digitally so y I enjoy Hadley Freeman’s articles in the Guardian and this book is written in an easy to read， journalistic style。 I have read many family histories of Holocaust survivors。 This one stands out as it covers the lives of 4 siblings across the entire 20th century， each with an interesting story。 It differs from others in that it takes in their children and grandchildren so you can see the effects on future generations。 I would recommend reading this in a hard copy version rather than digitally so you don’t miss the family photographs 。。。more
Kristin
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A thoughtful， well researched history of the author's family。 A story of persecution， immigration， and the endurance of the human spirit。 A thoughtful， well researched history of the author's family。 A story of persecution， immigration， and the endurance of the human spirit。 。。。more
Belinda Carvalho
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I'm another reader who came to this via Hadley Freeman's enjoyable Guardian columns。 I knew she was American and from a Jewish background but had no idea from my previous reading of her that a。 she had such an interesting family history b。 that she could write so well （ particularly in such a way as to make the 20th century history of anti-semitism so fascinating。） This story and her research into her family was sparked by the sadness that seemed to haunt her grandmother Sala。 Sala was 'lucky' i I'm another reader who came to this via Hadley Freeman's enjoyable Guardian columns。 I knew she was American and from a Jewish background but had no idea from my previous reading of her that a。 she had such an interesting family history b。 that she could write so well （ particularly in such a way as to make the 20th century history of anti-semitism so fascinating。） This story and her research into her family was sparked by the sadness that seemed to haunt her grandmother Sala。 Sala was 'lucky' in that she had escaped persecution in the Holocaust by leaving Paris for Long Island in the late 1930's but this was not without cost and we discover why in the book。This is a thorough read and when I first got this book， I thought it was a tome that I'd struggle to get through。 It wasn't like that at all though， Hadley's writing flows and you become so invested in the characters， her colourful family members， that she lovingly brings back to life。 She has an almost uncanny ability to link the prejudices and atrocities suffered by her family to modern issues of race hate and the far right。The Glass siblings escape progroms during the break up of the Austro-Hungarian empire by building brilliant lives in Paris。 You read it with bated breath as the thirties drag on and you know the tumult and tragedy of what is going to come。 And that the weight of surviving can almost be a bit much to bear。I loved the contract between her great uncle Alex and her grandmother， both totally different stories， Alex a very celebrated figure， her grandmother a wife and mother but both stories equally fascinating， due to the times they lived in and how they dealt with the hand fate dealt them。This book seemed meticulously researched， I'm a sucker for historical details and it feels like Hadley went through the past with a fine tooth comb。 I learned a lot from this book and I really recommend reading it。 Hadley Freeman's family never talked about the past， due to their suffering， and I think this must have been really therapeutic， as it sounds really resolved in the last chapter。 What a testament to them。 。。。more
Rosanna
，
What does it mean to become closer to a grandparent after they have died？ Hadley Freeman thoughtfully investigates the twists of her family tree through the 20th century and provides invaluable sociohistorical context about the Jewish experience。 This memoir balances poetic exposition and journalistic rigger。 She paints a robust picture of complicated people and gives us a window into her ancestor’s lives and how they live in her。
Debbie
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