From the day I conceived this book it would take nearly ten years to complete. Throughout, numerous well-wishers helped pave the way. Others provided inspiration from near and far. There are so many to whom I am grateful for making The Orpheus Clock become a reality. Although my acknowledgments are in no meticulous order, I must begin with my great-grandfather Eugen Gutmann, who found the clock in Paris and began the Gutmann collection. Then there is my grandfather Fritz Gutmann, who continued the collection and tried so hard to preserve our family legacy. My father, Bernard Goodman, also deserves special recognition for his silent determination while saving countless documents, whose significance would only become apparent decades later.
Special thanks go to my indomitable aunt, Lili Collas-Gutmann, whose courage and perseverance acted as a source of infinite strength and inspiration. My brother, Nick Goodman, generously provided steady encouragement and wise counsel throughout. Patiently he read every single word I wrote, as did my dearest wife, May Quigley-Goodman. Their guidance made my task lighter. Inevitably, there were some bleak periods through which I would not have emerged had it not been for May’s constant nurturing and unwavering support.
Several members of my extended family also offered support, both spiritual and practical, including Eva Schultze-Dumbsky, Francis Fitzgibbon, Jean-Paul Froidevaux, and the late Nadine von Goldschmidt-Rothschild.
My quest might well have ground to a halt without the talents of several skilled professionals. In particular I’d like to thank Tom Kline, Willi Korte, Barry Rosen, Anne Webber, Rebecca Friedman, Connie Walsh, and Terry Higham for their counsel and encouragement. In addition I would like to express my appreciation to a host of dedicated experts: Helen Junz, Rudi Ekkart, Evelien Campfens, Tonie Brandsie, Perry Schrier, Evert Rodrigo, Rik Vos, Maarten Meijer, René Pottkamp, Marie Hamon, Anne Georgeon-Liskenne, Marc Masurovsky, and Randy Schoenberg.
There were many who helped with outstanding research and skilled translation, such as Christine Koenigs, Helen Hofhuis, Frank van Putten, Uwe Hartmann, Monika Flacke, Ilse von zur Mühlen, Horst Kessler, Richard Winkler, Cornelia Kruppik, Katrin Lege, Michael Jurk, all those at the Getty Research Institute, and Carmen Ketola, who made such a sensitive translation of my grandfather’s poem.
Along my journey I have been inspired and enlightened by countless authors and journalists, including Hector Feliciano, Shuchen Tan, Lien Heyting, Walter Robinson, Morley Safer, Melanie McFadyean, the late Marilyn Henry, Gerard Aalders, Corinne Bouchoux, Michael Bazyler, Jonathan Petropoulos, Robert Edsel, Nancy Yeide, Jane van Nimmen, Elena Ceccarini, and Annie Jacobsen—from the encyclopedic Lynn Nicholas to the Proustian Edmund de Waal.
I am particularly appreciative of the relations that have emerged between my family and the two great auction houses. At Christie’s a special thank-you must go to Sheri Farber for her untiring assistance. Also, Monica Dugot and her skilled restitution department have been a constant support. Other notables include Marc Porter, Jop Ubbens, Nicholas Hall, James Hastie, Toby Woolley, and Anthony Phillips. At Sotheby’s, the most knowledgeable Lucian Simmons and the author Richard Aronowitz have both become valued colleagues.
It has been particularly gratifying to have encountered several collectors and museum officials who acknowledged the fundamental necessity for Holocaust-era restitution, notably Suzanne Delehanty, Philip Furmanski, Abe Somer, Anja Heuss, Cornelia Ewigleben, Irmgard Müsch, Moritz Paysan, Scott Schaefer, Douglas Druick, and the late James Wood.
And lastly I must thank my dear friend, the writer Hunter Drohojowska-Philp, without whom this book might never have been completed. It was her sober advice that, among other things, led me to my wonderful agents, Eric Lasher and Maureen Lasher. With the help of Gordon Dillow, the Lashers began to shape my rambling notes into a coherent entity. From there I was introduced to the talented team at Scribner: Colin Harrison, Katrina Diaz, Alexsis Johnson, and Susan Moldow. I am indebted to them for their patience and expertise.
I am truly fortunate, thanks to all those mentioned above and those whose names elude me, to be able to offer this book to my children, James Goodman, Emma Goodman, Tara Goodman, and Rebecca Goodman, and all the generations that will follow.