Discover the Epic Story of the Last Kings of Shanghai: How Two Rival Jewish Dynasties Helped Shape Modern China

Ralf Wokan: Unerlässlich zum Studium

Germany on Oct 29, 2023

Lisa Casey: It started a little slow but it wasn't long before I couldn't put this book down. It read like a novel and I learned so much. I highly recommend this book.

United States on Oct 18, 2023

Patrick H Wirtz: This is a well-researched book on the history of Jewish families from the Middle East who created business empires in East Asia when Shanghai was an international trade center. It describes a Shanghai of long ago when it had one of the most international and cosmopolitan populations before WWII and the establishment of the People's Republic ended that period of openness. The narrative is good at describing how these families rose in economic power and how they maintained it during Shanghai's heyday of laissez faire economics. This is a fascinating look at a long ago era.

United States on Sep 14, 2023

Kindle Customer: As someone who has lived in China for over ten years and studied Chinese history and politics in college, I learned about a new aspect of Chinese history from a different, and unique perspective. A fascinating book and I recommend all China watchers to read it

United States on Aug 27, 2023

jane Nikitenko: In my opinion this is one of the great historical books that gives you vivid insights of political climate in pre war Shanghai. Great family saga that deserves to be known and remembered for years to come. Sophisticated, suave, cosmopolitan book. Definitely shall read more of this talented, accomplished author.

United States on Jul 29, 2023

Amazon Kunde: 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.

Germany on Jul 01, 2023

Desert Ginny: Where to start? I consider myself a mature, educated professional woman. I have visited Hong Kong, Shanghai, Guangzhou (Canton), et al. Still, this book opened my mind to so many issues going
on in China in the 20th century at the same time I was growing up across the Pacific Ocean. Never did I know China was a destination for the Jewish trying to escape Nazism. It is causing me to think of colonialism in a more sophisticated way and to admire Chinese fortitude after being given mental images of the very difficult lives many lived. I have a feeling this book will be on my mind often during early morning walks.

United States on Jun 18, 2023

Mdm Lee: Who is controlling the Real Estate of Shanghai

Singapore on Apr 14, 2023

Nathik: I picked up James Clavell’s historical fiction novel “Tai-Pan” and the Noble House referred in the novel reminded a lot of Sasoon Family. Besides the fact that the Sasoon family made a fortune in the opium trade and built the famous Sasoon dock in Mumbai, I knew very little about the Sassoon or Kadoorie family. So naturally, I paused reading “Tai-Pan” and picked up “The Last Kings of Shanghai”. Because truth is stranger than fiction.
The Sasoons were illustrious and politically well-connected merchant family in Baghdad. They were the financial advisors for the Ottoman Baghdad rulers and represented the wider Jewish community. Unfortunately, their fortunes turned upside down because of the volatile political situation in Baghdad. The patriarch David Sasoon soon moved to Bombay (now Mumbai) in search of opportunities. His reputation, financial acumen and family connection helped him secure loans, contacts and business. Even though David didn’t speak English, he preferred the British empire to Baghdad; situation under British empire was more stable, business friendly and there was no persecution of Jews. During the 1857 Indian munity, he openly sided with British...

India on Aug 28, 2022

Ralph Blumenau: This is the story of the great Jewish business dynasties of Iraqi ancestry, the Sassoons and the Kadoories.

David Sassoon was born in Baghdad, then in the Ottoman Empire. He was the leading member of the wealthy Jewish community there. In 1829 the Turkish authorities turned against the wealthy Jews, and David Sassoon fled, arriving in Bombay in 1832. There he identified himself solidly with the British, and within a decade had become one of the richest people in India, and was also a great philanthropist.

He made more money by selling Indian-grown opium to China, then a declining power. China tried to stop the trade, but after two Opium Wars, was compelled, not only to permit the trade throughout the country, but also to cede Hong Kong and extra-territoriality in five “treaty ports”, one of which was Shanghai, where in 1863 the British and Americans fused their concessions into the “International Settlement”.

David had eight sons. In 1850 he sent his second son, Elias, to Shanghai, where he continued to sell opium. In 1867 Elias broke way from the family company, David Sassoon Sons & Co, and founded his own, E.D.Sassoon & Co. By the 1870s the...

United Kingdom on Sep 14, 2020