The Looking Glass Brother
Peter von Ziegesar’s memoir, The Looking Glass Brother, tells a remarkable story of family, privilege, and responsibility. Born into the gilded age elegance of Long Island’s great estates, von Ziegesar’s early years at Peacock Point were filled with summers by the Long Island Sound, pristine beaches, croquet games, and formal dinners served by butlers. That idyllic life changed when his father left after a string of affairs, remarried, and brought new step-siblings into the family, including Little Peter—a brilliant violin prodigy once hailed as “the next Paganini.”
As Little Peter’s life unravels into homelessness and schizophrenia, von Ziegesar’s own life moves forward. After settling in Greenwich Village and preparing for the birth of his first child, he finds himself stepping into the role of caregiver for his troubled stepbrother. In this moving memoir, von Ziegesar reflects on the contrasting paths of their lives, blending vivid memories of Peacock Point’s golden days with the challenges of urban fatherhood and the deep responsibility of supporting a brother whose struggles are both heartbreaking and deeply human.
“A piercing, thought-provoking portrait of a many-branched American family. ” -- Donna Seaman, Booklist Starred Review
“Shines with emotional veracity, sensory precision, cosmic absurdity...and steadfast love.” -- The Kansas City Star
“One of those New York stories of privilege and downfall.” -- New York Daily News
“Brotherly love is evident here, while drugs, lavish estates, suicide, divorce, philandering, and the backdrop of NYC round out a touching inside view of comfort and homelessness.” -- Publisher’s Weekly Starred Review
“A vivid, frequently elegiac memory piece. The talented writer snares readers throughout.” -- Kirkus Reviews
“Powerful, interesting and often laugh-out loud fun.” -- John Nichols, author of The Milagro Beanfield War.
“A unique lyrical voice, both brave and loving.” -- Stephanie LaCava, author of An Extraordinary Theory of Objects; A Memoir of an Outsider in Paris
“A candid and personal story that seeks to show and understand the forces that both tear apart and draw together a father and his two sons, even as all three wrestle with their personal demons.” -- Lou Ureneck, author of Backcast: Fatherhood, Fly Fishing and a River Journey Through the Heart of Alaska
“Elegantly constructed and written with both stringency and heart.” -- Eli Gottlieb, author of The Boy Who Went Away