Once upon a time there was a father who because he had grown old called together his sons and daughters four five six eight in number and finally convinced them after long hesitation to do as he wished. Now they are sitting around a table and begin to talk... In this delightful sequel to Peeling the Onion Gunter Grass writes in the voices of his eight children as they record memories of their childhoods of growing up of their father who was always at work on a new book always at the margins of their lives. Memories contradictory critical loving accusatory they piece together an intimate picture of this most public of men. To say nothing of Marie Grass assistant a family friend of many years perhaps even a lover whose snapshots taken with an old fashioned Agfa box camera provide the author with ideas for his work. But her images offer much more. They reveal a truth beyond the ordinary detail of life depict the future tell what might have been grant the wishes in visual form of those photographed. The children speculate on the nature of this magic was the enchanted camera a source of inspiration for their father Did it represent the power of art itself Was it the eye of God The Box is an inspired and daring work of fiction. In its candour wit and earthiness it is Grass at his very best.