Shanghai at the turn of the twentieth century was the place to be. Opium was all the rage, parties were wild, and decadence was a way of life. Jour...
read full description
reviews
May 02, 2010
Georgia
rated it: 
Nearly 5 years into my Shanghai habitation, and I'm just reading this book. No excuse whatsoever either as a copy has been on my shelf for the better part of 3 or 4 years. But now I have read it and I am labeling myself an official expert of Shanghai between the years of 1842 and 1949, which I'm sure you'll agree, is quite the accomplishment after having completed this 294 page book.
On a scale of 1 to 5, I'd give this book a 3. The author, Stella Dong, seems to have done her research More...
On a scale of 1 to 5, I'd give this book a 3. The author, Stella Dong, seems to have done her research More...
Jun 22, 2009
Jason
rated it: 
As those of you crazy enough to follow my reading preferences have noted, I have a bit of a fetish for the interwar period. Furthermore, thanks to a year in Japan, I've absorbed more than my fair share of Asian history. Well, this little chunk of history scratches at two itches simultaneously.
Stella Dong seeks to capture that bizzare moment of history where the clash of Sino and Western cultures produced dizzying displays of Chinese beauty encased in an art deco facade. Shanghai h More...
Stella Dong seeks to capture that bizzare moment of history where the clash of Sino and Western cultures produced dizzying displays of Chinese beauty encased in an art deco facade. Shanghai h More...
Dec 18, 2008
Eveline
rated it: 
This was fantastic. I learned a ton about the history of Shanghai and it was packed with so many amazing, crazy, super-interesting details. Shanghai from the late 1800s through the 1940s was freaking insane. I had to stop myself from jumping up every 5 pages to type up some amazing passage I'd just read and email it to all my friends being like, ISN'T THIS FASCINATING?
I must say though, something went wrong with the copyediting schedule on this thing because when I got to, I dunno, ma More...
I must say though, something went wrong with the copyediting schedule on this thing because when I got to, I dunno, ma More...
Feb 24, 2010
Tom
rated it:
This was a great quick read about my home city these days. The author combined an impressive range of exhaustive resources and wove them all together in a very enjoyable story. I can't believe so many people died on the streets I travel daily here in Shanghai. The power struggles between opium warlords, Nationalists, Communists, rich businessmen, and foreign interests shocked me, yet, there's no public reminder of these events here.
Nov 21, 2011
Mariana
rated it:
In 2000, I sent my mother this book for her birthday since she was born in Shanghai. I found it among her things after she died in March.
I enjoyed reading this book and catching a glimpse of the place where my mom was born. Its a very relevant book, particularly to the whole "occupy" movement as it shows how revolutions begin. The new Shanghai is a totally different city, built after 1945.
I enjoyed reading this book and catching a glimpse of the place where my mom was born. Its a very relevant book, particularly to the whole "occupy" movement as it shows how revolutions begin. The new Shanghai is a totally different city, built after 1945.
Jan 07, 2012
Found this book on a used books sale while I was reading 'When we were ofphans'. Bought it as I thought it was an interesting coincidence. Now that I'm getting into non-fiction, I'm even more interested in reading this book!
Jul 29, 2010
Lisa
rated it:
a quick, easy read. history that reads like a trashy novel. smart, sexy smut. unlike most books that cover the period of chinese history from the first opium war to the successful rise of the CCP and PLA, this book tells the story through a lens pointed squarely at shanghai. definitely a refreshing and specific perspective.
Mar 04, 2009
Lorraine
rated it:
If you're interested in history, especially of China, this book is excellent. I think it would truly be a revelation for most Americans who may think of China as just now catching up to Western standards.
Jan 11, 2012
Ivan
rated it: 
A must read for everybody who wants to move to Shanghai. Things haven't changed as much as people might think and this offers you a crash course in Shanghainese culture!
Aug 02, 2011
Tom
rated it:
Picked this up in an airport, pretty good for a non academic history of Shanghai.
Sep 02, 2010
Mark
rated it:
Stella Dong plays tour guide to Old Shanghai, that decadent seedy mega-city born in the last years of the Manchu Empire. Shanghai, being an ungrateful daughter, was the center of intrigue and funding that finally toppled the last Emperor of China in Beijing. Shanghai of the 1920's sounds so alluring and dangerous that I can't help wishing that I could jump into my hot-tub time machine and visit it for a couple of weeks. I would also like to make sure that I was not forced into prostitution, mu
More...
Jul 10, 2008
Lindsay
rated it:
A fascinating history of the development of Shanghai. It's amazing how the city formed, and the politics involved in it's history. It's made me aware of how little I really know of Asian history as well and the kind of role the west has played.
Overall, this was well written, full of interesting details and a vivid narrative style.
Overall, this was well written, full of interesting details and a vivid narrative style.
Dec 17, 2009
Zoe
rated it:
I knew next to nothing about Asian history when I started this, and I learned a great deal. Shanghai was a city of refugees, and many Russians landed there in the early 20th century. Opium was, of course, available, and the white colonialists were segregated from the Chinese -- no surprise there, I guess.
Jan 02, 2010
Kelly
rated it:
for something with such a promising title, it was dry and downright boring. i found the author's use of "fifty cent words" distracting, as if she was trying to make herself more intelligent to alienate her reader, but perhaps this is simply because i'm not a regular reader of scholarly materials.
Feb 09, 2008
King Dinösaur
rated it:
What an interesting time and place. There's a reason why Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom opens in Shanghai...that's where it was all happenin'!
Dec 16, 2009
Jennie
rated it:
A history of Shanghai as a city. It was readable, but uneven and for some reasons thinks that "Britishers" is the proper term for "Britons" or "The British".
Jan 24, 2012
Jan 11, 2012
Jan 11, 2012
Jan 11, 2012
Jan 09, 2012
Jan 08, 2012
Jan 02, 2012
Dec 29, 2011
Dec 25, 2011
Nov 26, 2011
