The Last Kings of Shanghai: The Rival Jewish Dynasties That Helped Create Modern China
Product ID: 205759386
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"In vivid detail... examines the little-known history of two extraordinary dynasties." --The Boston Globe "Not just a brilliant, well-researched, and highly readable book about China's past, it also reveals the contingencies and ironic twists of fate in China's modern history." --LA Review of Books An epic, multigenerational story of two rival dynasties who flourished in Shanghai and Hong Kong as twentieth-century China surged into the modern era, from the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Shanghai, 1936. The Cathay Hotel, located on the city's famous waterfront, is one of the most glamorous in the world. Built by Victor Sassoon--billionaire playboy and scion of the Sassoon dynasty--the hotel hosts a who's who of global celebrities: Noel Coward has written a draft of Private Lives in his suite and Charlie Chaplin has entertained his wife-to-be. And a few miles away, Mao and the nascent Communist Party have been plotting revolution. By the 1930s, the Sassoons had been doing business in China for a century, rivaled in wealth and influence by only one other dynasty--the Kadoories. These two Jewish families, both originally from Baghdad, stood astride Chinese business and politics for more than 175 years, profiting from the Opium Wars; surviving Japanese occupation; courting Chiang Kai-shek; and losing nearly everything as the Communists swept into power. In The Last Kings of Shanghai, Jonathan Kaufman tells the remarkable history of how these families participated in an economic boom that opened China to the world, but remained blind to the country's deep inequality and to the political turmoil at their doorsteps. In a story stretching from Baghdad to Hong Kong to Shanghai to London, Kaufman enters the lives and minds of these ambitious men and women to forge a tale of opium smuggling, family rivalry, political intrigue, and survival. The book lays bare the moral compromises of the Kadoories and the Sassoons--and their exceptional foresight, success, and generosity. At the height of World War II, they joined together to rescue and protect eighteen thousand Jewish refugees fleeing Nazism. Though their stay in China started out as a business opportunity, the country became a home they were reluctant to leave, even on the eve of revolution. The lavish buildings they built and the booming businesses they nurtured continue to define Shanghai and Hong Kong to this day. As the United States confronts China's rise, and China grapples with the pressures of breakneck modernization and global power, the long-hidden odysseys of the Sassoons and the Kadoories hold a key to understanding the present moment. Review: I never knew . . . - Never in a million years did I consider the lives of Jews in China, but this eye-opening book offered revelation after revelation of the lives of member of two Sephardic families and the different methods they used to essentially rule over Shanghai into the 20th century. Shanghai was a free-for-all, pretty much an independent state not subject to Beijing's rule (at least for foreigners). This is a story of culture clashes unlike any other. And also a story of cultural cooperation. Imagine German Jews being given visas to "independent" Shanghai, and living out WWII in that city. Living conditions may not have been great for these refugees, but through the efforts of Jews already in that city, and a cooperative Chinese ambassador willing to issue visas, they survived the Holocaust. There's even a museum in Shanghai dedicated to these refugees. Highly recommended. Review: An Original View of East Meets West - The Last Kings of Shanghai sweeps through the 19th and 20th centuries, telling the story of two families of the Jewish diaspora, originally based in Baghdad, the Sassoons and the Kadoories, who end up accumulating astounding wealth through trade. For decades they rule the elegant waterfront of Shanghai, living in the opulent splendor of their own grand hotels and mansions, while the Chinese, whom they barely notice, struggle to survive. Through the improbable lens of these families we glimpse the tumult of the great transitions that ended the centuries of dynastic empires in China – from the collapse of the Qing dynasty to Sun Yat-sen to Chaing Kai-Shek to Mao – all of which led to today’s People’s Republic. Kaufman offers an absorbing and innovative angle on the story of east meets west. An educational precept suggests that we learn by beginning with the familiar and gradually edging into the unfamiliar. For me nothing could seem more exotically enigmatic than the history of China. This book is an exciting read because, in addition to depicting fascinating characters, it lifts a curtain and makes intelligible what had previously been opaque. Kaufman takes a journalistic stance on the behavior of these tycoons and lets the reader do most of the moral judging (if there be any). Certainly vis a vis the Chinese, the Kadoories and the Sassoons exhibit little generosity or even curiosity. But there is a moment of true redemption for both families during World War II. While the US turns away refugees from the Holocaust, Shanghai embraces them in droves. The Sassoons and the Kadoories participate in welcoming 18,000 Jews. Horace Kadoorie, perhaps the most empathetic member of these clans, sets up a school for the children. I hope many people will read this book. Surely you want to know what happens to Lawrence and Horace when the Communists take over and where all those Jewish refugees finally land when the war is over. And what about Victor? He is the hero and anti-hero of the book. You really want to know how his life takes a turn.
| Best Sellers Rank | #349,106 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #17 in Chinese History (Books) #60 in Company Business Profiles (Books) #73 in Jewish History (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 3,023 Reviews |
P**B
I never knew . . .
Never in a million years did I consider the lives of Jews in China, but this eye-opening book offered revelation after revelation of the lives of member of two Sephardic families and the different methods they used to essentially rule over Shanghai into the 20th century. Shanghai was a free-for-all, pretty much an independent state not subject to Beijing's rule (at least for foreigners). This is a story of culture clashes unlike any other. And also a story of cultural cooperation. Imagine German Jews being given visas to "independent" Shanghai, and living out WWII in that city. Living conditions may not have been great for these refugees, but through the efforts of Jews already in that city, and a cooperative Chinese ambassador willing to issue visas, they survived the Holocaust. There's even a museum in Shanghai dedicated to these refugees. Highly recommended.
M**E
An Original View of East Meets West
The Last Kings of Shanghai sweeps through the 19th and 20th centuries, telling the story of two families of the Jewish diaspora, originally based in Baghdad, the Sassoons and the Kadoories, who end up accumulating astounding wealth through trade. For decades they rule the elegant waterfront of Shanghai, living in the opulent splendor of their own grand hotels and mansions, while the Chinese, whom they barely notice, struggle to survive. Through the improbable lens of these families we glimpse the tumult of the great transitions that ended the centuries of dynastic empires in China – from the collapse of the Qing dynasty to Sun Yat-sen to Chaing Kai-Shek to Mao – all of which led to today’s People’s Republic. Kaufman offers an absorbing and innovative angle on the story of east meets west. An educational precept suggests that we learn by beginning with the familiar and gradually edging into the unfamiliar. For me nothing could seem more exotically enigmatic than the history of China. This book is an exciting read because, in addition to depicting fascinating characters, it lifts a curtain and makes intelligible what had previously been opaque. Kaufman takes a journalistic stance on the behavior of these tycoons and lets the reader do most of the moral judging (if there be any). Certainly vis a vis the Chinese, the Kadoories and the Sassoons exhibit little generosity or even curiosity. But there is a moment of true redemption for both families during World War II. While the US turns away refugees from the Holocaust, Shanghai embraces them in droves. The Sassoons and the Kadoories participate in welcoming 18,000 Jews. Horace Kadoorie, perhaps the most empathetic member of these clans, sets up a school for the children. I hope many people will read this book. Surely you want to know what happens to Lawrence and Horace when the Communists take over and where all those Jewish refugees finally land when the war is over. And what about Victor? He is the hero and anti-hero of the book. You really want to know how his life takes a turn.
I**L
FASCINATING HISTORY
Amazing story of the beginnings of Shanghai and Hong Kong. How the Jewish families Sassoon and Kadori from Babylon went to China, started an amazing dynasty, saved thousands of Jews during WWII and continued to grow until the present day. So much to learn about and give a new view of the East
S**A
An entertaining and illuminating book!
Enjoyed it very much. Should have read it before visiting Shanghai and Hong Kong - would have given more context. So I’d recommend it to anyone visiting these cities to read it. So fun!
M**S
A delightful "Who Knew" book
This is a "who knew?" book, in the most delightful way. I mean, who knew that two prominent Jewish families from Iraq, after fleeing to Bombay, would have an outsized influence on the development of Shanghai as a major trading city in China? And do so for successive generations? Or, about a hundred years after their arrival, would be instrumental in saving 18,000 European Jews from the Holocaust. Or that one of the family's patriarchs would use Japan's anti-Semitism to help save those refugees from German killers? The book is full of colorful characters and improbable but true stories based on verifiable sources. The author, a former Wall Street Journal reporter who covered China, pulls together disparate sources and weaves a thoroughly fascinating narrative, as clearly written as it is well researched.
C**E
Foundational History for Understanding Present Times.
This I an excellent book for understanding modern events and how Jewish merchants from Persia and the Levant have forged trails and shaped civilizations, spreading cultural customs and goods in and from India and China. All of this effects the present, believe it or not.
F**C
a fun read
having studied and worked under jewish people, i feel closer to jewsish than any other ethnic group. born and raised in shanghai, i love shanghai more than any other city in the world. so the book is a fun read for me.
M**S
A Colorful Glimpse of a China I Never Knew
I've read many books about China, but the story of the Sassoon and Kadoori dynasties was new to me. These two Jewish families, originally from Baghdad by way of India, made their original fortunes in the Shanghai opium trade. Well-researched and well-written, the book reads like a novel, full of drama and deeply drawn characters--some sympathetic, some not. When Shanghai became one of the very few places in the world that welcomed Jewish refugees from the Holocaust, they were on the front lines--sheltering and taking care of them. Along with their decades-long rivalry, they were noted for their generous worldwide philanthropy. A must-read for anyone looking for a colorful glimpse of a China you never knew.
A**E
Faszinierender Mix aus persönlichen Schicksalen, Wirtschaft & Weltpolitik
Ein Thema und Protagonisten, welche hierzulande kaum bekannt sind. Stoff für ein mehrteiliges Film-Epos. Ich bin auf das Buch durch eine Empfehlung von Dr. Markus Elsässer gekommen.
M**E
Who were the biggest Businessmen in Shanghai before and during WWII
Who is controlling the Real Estate of Shanghai
M**N
Excelente
Buen libro buen escrito
R**L
A fascinating story of two families with very different approaches to business success.
Although I lived in Hong Kong during the 1970s, The Kadoories were real just names to me and the Sassoons with their involvement in the development of Shanghai were ancient history. This book vividly brings their story to life and explains their pivotal importance in rehoming Jewish refugees. The book is written in a pacy style making it eminently readable. For those who like me want to learn more about the wider Sassoon family I suggest that you follow this with 'The Global Merchants - The Enterprise and the Extravagance of the Sassoon Dynasty' by Joseph Sassoon. Also fascinating. Great insights into an extraordinary family.
A**D
Wonderful Read - Just the thing for Shanghai Lovers
This book is well worth a read. For anyone who lives or who has lived in Shanghai and is interested in its history this book is excellent. It focuses on the two Jewish family dynasties that contributed to Shanghai's development. Enjoyable and informative. Just one part of Shanghai's story but an important one often overlooked. Highly recommended.
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