
A gripping saga of family ties and rivalries, love and ambition in nineteenth century Paris, Vienna and London.The Founder of the House is the first book in the bestselling Gollantz Family Saga which traces the lives and loves of several generations of Jewish antique dealers in Europe. The seven-novel series explores how one family's destiny is shaped by the politics and attitudes of the time, as well as by the choices and actions of its own members.Hermann Gollantz, is a Jewish antique dealer, who lives his life according to the principles of loyalty, honesty and honour instilled in him as a child. He is torn between his principles of loyalty and honesty, and protecting his beloved wife Rachel from a harsh truth. But these ideals are ruthlessly exploited by his wife's family, threatening everything that is important to him. Protecting his beloved wife, Rachel, from the truth carries a great cost.His young son, Emmanuel Gollantz, becomes involved with the inner circle of the Viennese Court, where his passion for the married baroness, Caroline Lukoes, has far-reaching consequences both for himself and the House of Gollantz.
Hermann Gollantz, a principled antique dealer, faces a moral crisis when his commitment to honesty clashes with the manipulative ambitions of his wife's family. Hermann must navigate the complex social hierarchies of nineteenth-century Europe while shielding his wife, Rachel, from painful truths that threaten their domestic stability. As the narrative shifts focus to his son, Emmanuel, the story examines the intersection of personal desire and familial reputation within the elite circles of the Viennese Court. The prose follows a multi-generational structure, tracking the evolution of the Gollantz family business and their social standing across Paris, Vienna, and London.
Readers frequently highlight the meticulous attention to period detail and the atmospheric depiction of nineteenth-century European society. Discussion often centers on the moral dilemmas faced by Hermann Gollantz and how these choices ripple through subsequent generations of the family. Critics note the steady pacing that allows for deep character development, balancing the personal lives of the protagonists with the broader political climate of the era. The series is often praised for its ability to maintain consistent thematic threads regarding loyalty and honor across multiple volumes. Many readers appreciate the focus on the antique trade as a unique backdrop for exploring family dynamics and social ambition.
Page Count:
319
Publication Date:
1971-01-01
Publisher:
Arrow Books
ISBN-10:
0090046102
ISBN-13:
9780090046102
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