As a boy growing up in Australia, Bonyhady knew nothing about his family background. After the death of his grandmother and aunt, he began to learn more about their years in Vienna and the sudden shift in fortunes following the Anschluss. Bonyhady learns that his family were wealthy art collectors during the Vienna Seccession movement, acquaintances of Gustav Mahler and patrons of Gustav Klimt.

An account of the author's forebears from the 1890s through to the present. In this time they were wealthy Jews in Vienna and patrons of the Austrian Secession and the Wiener Werkstaette. The book covers this in some detail adds additional i nterest to the main historical story. The charcacters followed escape Vienna for Berlin with much of their moveable possessions to settle in Australia, and the later part of the book follows their experiences and different attitudes in adopting new lives whilst coming to terms with their past.

The book is well written, moving without being over sentimental, and well illustrated. ( )

Read 2019. ( )