The Lampshade

Mark Jacobson's investigative book follows the discovery of a mysterious lampshade in post-Katrina New Orleans that was claimed to be made from human skin during the Holocaust. The investigation begins when a local resident purchases the item at a rummage sale and sends it to Jacobson, sparking a five-year search for answers. The narrative traces Jacobson's journey across multiple continents as he consults historians, scientists, and Holocaust experts to verify the lampshade's authenticity and origin. His research takes him through archives, laboratories, and museums while examining both the physical evidence and the broader historical context. The book explores questions about the preservation and authentication of Holocaust artifacts, the role of physical objects in historical memory, and how societies choose to confront difficult aspects of their past. These themes emerge against the backdrop of post-Katrina New Orleans, creating unexpected parallels between different types of historical trauma.

Readers found the book's premise compelling but many felt disappointed by the execution. Most reviews note that the author spends too much time on personal tangents rather than focusing on the central investigation of the lampshade. Positive reviews praised: - The historical research and context provided - The ethical questions raised about artifacts from atrocities - The author's persistence in tracking down leads Common criticisms: - Meandering narrative structure - Too much focus on the author's personal journey - Inconclusive ending frustrated many readers - Some found the tone sensationalistic Ratings: Goodreads: 3.2/5 (128 ratings) Amazon: 3.3/5 (41 ratings) "The story gets lost in unnecessary details and self-indulgent prose," noted one Amazon reviewer. A Goodreads review stated: "An important topic that deserved more focused treatment." Several readers mentioned they stopped reading partway through due to the scattered narrative approach.

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The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal A ceramicist follows the journey of his family's collection of Japanese netsuke through generations of European history and the Holocaust.

East West Street by Philippe Sands A legal scholar uncovers the origins of international human rights law while investigating his family's Holocaust history in Lviv.

The World That We Knew by Alice Hoffman The narrative weaves Jewish folklore with Holocaust history to trace the path of artifacts and survivors through wartime France.

🔍 The lampshade was purchased for $35 at a post-Katrina rummage sale in New Orleans, where the seller claimed it was "made from the skin of Jews." 🏛️ DNA testing at several laboratories, including the Smithsonian Institution, proved inconclusive but couldn't definitively rule out that the lampshade was made of human skin. ✍️ Mark Jacobson is a veteran journalist whose work has appeared in New York Magazine, Rolling Stone, and Village Voice, and inspired the film American Gangster. ⚜️ The book's New Orleans connection highlights an often-overlooked fact: many Holocaust artifacts ended up in America through soldiers who brought them home as war souvenirs. 🕯️ During the Holocaust, the making of lampshades from human skin was particularly associated with Ilse Koch, wife of the Buchenwald concentration camp commandant, though most alleged examples have been proven false.