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The Last Kings of Shanghai: The Rival Jewish Dynasties That Helped Create Modern China

The Last Kings of Shanghai: The Rival Jewish Dynasties That Helped Create Modern China

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  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-05-23 08:51:40
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Jonathan Kaufman
  • ISBN：0735224439
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Summary

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

The Sassoons and the Kadoories stood astride Chinese business and politics for more than one hundred seventy-five years， profiting from the Opium Wars; surviving Japanese occupation; courting Chiang Kai-shek; and nearly losing everything as the Communists swept into power。 Jonathan Kaufman tells the remarkable history of how these families ignited an economic boom and opened China to the world， but remained blind to the country's deep inequality and to the political turmoil on 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。

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Reviews

R。J。 Gilmour ，

Kaufman's book looks at the history of two Jewish families that settled in Shanghai， the Sassoon family and the Kadoorie family， and the world that they helped make between World War I and World War II。 It is a fascinating look at the history of the city and the families and how they helped develop the world around them as it changed。 Kaufman's book looks at the history of two Jewish families that settled in Shanghai， the Sassoon family and the Kadoorie family， and the world that they helped make between World War I and World War II。 It is a fascinating look at the history of the city and the families and how they helped develop the world around them as it changed。 。。。more

Paula ，

It was really interesting to learn the history of these two prominent Jewish families living in China in the 1900s， as well as the existence of a Jewish ghetto in Shanghai during WWII。 Fun tidbits about how the women in these families were ostrasized if they tried to do "men's work" of taking over a business。 There was a lot of repetition though， which made the last 10-20% of the book really boring。 It was really interesting to learn the history of these two prominent Jewish families living in China in the 1900s， as well as the existence of a Jewish ghetto in Shanghai during WWII。 Fun tidbits about how the women in these families were ostrasized if they tried to do "men's work" of taking over a business。 There was a lot of repetition though， which made the last 10-20% of the book really boring。 。。。more

Stuart ，

This book may not be for everyone， but for me -- it was amazing， interesting， captivating， and informative。 Kaufman has thoroughly researched and written a fantastic history of the role that two immigrant Jewish families played in the development of Shanghai， for the good and the bad （opium trade， worker exploitation， etc。）。 I found myself googling different buildings that were referenced in the book， and learned more about Shanghai and Hong Kong （and many other places） that I could have ever im This book may not be for everyone， but for me -- it was amazing， interesting， captivating， and informative。 Kaufman has thoroughly researched and written a fantastic history of the role that two immigrant Jewish families played in the development of Shanghai， for the good and the bad （opium trade， worker exploitation， etc。）。 I found myself googling different buildings that were referenced in the book， and learned more about Shanghai and Hong Kong （and many other places） that I could have ever imagined。 。。。more

Natalia ，

One of the most interesting non-fiction books I have read in ages。 I loved learning about Shanghai's and Hong Kong's unexpected history and its ties to the Jewish world。What blew me away the most were the absolute brilliant and strong women that were operating within the business world of the Sasoons and Kadooris。 Those ladies were way ahead of their time （even more than their astonishing male relatives） and I wish they would not have been sabotaged like they ended up being。 This is clearly a re One of the most interesting non-fiction books I have read in ages。 I loved learning about Shanghai's and Hong Kong's unexpected history and its ties to the Jewish world。What blew me away the most were the absolute brilliant and strong women that were operating within the business world of the Sasoons and Kadooris。 Those ladies were way ahead of their time （even more than their astonishing male relatives） and I wish they would not have been sabotaged like they ended up being。 This is clearly a recommended read for history buffs。 。。。more

Michele ，

If you want to read a fantasy book， this might be the one。 The author gives his version of history by defining drug smuggling as "enlightened business" in the introduction。 Do yourself a favor， read another book。 This author is an embarrassment to the Jewish people and it's history。 If you want to read a fantasy book， this might be the one。 The author gives his version of history by defining drug smuggling as "enlightened business" in the introduction。 Do yourself a favor， read another book。 This author is an embarrassment to the Jewish people and it's history。 。。。more

Teresa Scott ，

Very interesting account of the Jewish families who moved from Baghdad to London to Shanghai （some by way of India）。 I was completely unaware of this part of history。 I listened to this book on Audible and think perhaps it would have been better to read it as a book。 There were a lot of details that I think got lost and made the story， at times， difficult to follow。

Ingrid Stoffel ，

Interesting and excellent history of Shanghai。 Well researched， but hard to follow， one does need to keep referencing the character pages。

R ，

This is the history of the Sassoon and Kadoorie families。 It was a good read and I learned about the Jewish experience from a different perspective。 The book included many deeply moving scenes and situations。

Anita R ，

This is a very informative and interesting book about the two prominent Jewish families that helped finance and form modern China。 I enjoyed reading about the generations of each family that helped developed China and the influence they had on the government。 The Sassoon and the Kadoorie families became extremely wealthy and valuable to China。 However， There were too many details， names， dates and facts in the book and it became very confusing with all the information。 The story kept going back This is a very informative and interesting book about the two prominent Jewish families that helped finance and form modern China。 I enjoyed reading about the generations of each family that helped developed China and the influence they had on the government。 The Sassoon and the Kadoorie families became extremely wealthy and valuable to China。 However， There were too many details， names， dates and facts in the book and it became very confusing with all the information。 The story kept going back and forth and it was difficult keeping track of the sequence of events 。 Less information and more focus of a few specific events would have make the book more enjoyable。 I did learn a lot about the influence of these very wealthy Jewish families ，how they became so wealthy and how they spent their money 。 。。。more

Bill ，

The Last Kings of Shanghai is a different perspective on colonialism。 In primarily following just two families， it shows the impact of imperialism in a more personal way。 Members of both families made immoral choices along the way， such as selling opium in the nineteenth century or ignoring the Tiananmen Square massacre in the twentieth， to make a profit。 But they also made life-saving decisions。 They， however， seldom really saw the Chinese as their equals， and living in a European Shanghai bubb The Last Kings of Shanghai is a different perspective on colonialism。 In primarily following just two families， it shows the impact of imperialism in a more personal way。 Members of both families made immoral choices along the way， such as selling opium in the nineteenth century or ignoring the Tiananmen Square massacre in the twentieth， to make a profit。 But they also made life-saving decisions。 They， however， seldom really saw the Chinese as their equals， and living in a European Shanghai bubble made the Sassoons and Kadoories blind to the realities of the lives of most people in China。 That ultimately cost them， Victor Sassoon and Elly Kadoorie， much of their fortunes。 The starving masses in China joined the Communists and overthrew the capitalist government of China。 The Kadoories rebuilt in Hong Kong， but Victor Sassoon left China。 Is there a lesson in this history of China that can be applied to a resurgent China today？ Maybe。 Author Jonathan Kaufman seems to believe there is。 In an unimportant side note， Kaufman says China's 27 day war with Vietnam in 1979 taught them their weapons were still inferior to Russian weapons。 That may be true， but I recall reading in a book called the The Arms Bazaar， or something like that， that the Vietnamese had also kept all the American-made weapons the US had left behind and that was why China lost。 Ancient history now， but maybe something to look into。 。。。more

J。crockatt ，

Brilliant！

Melissa ，

Fascinating history I never knew， that explains so much about the relations between China and the West even today and tells a different sort of Holocaust story。 While Kaufman doesn't shy away from the dark legacies of colonialism and rampant capitalism， he also fairly demonstrates the enduring legacies of both that have benefited millions。 So many thoughts surfaced as I was reading this - legacies， history （both embraced and erased）， the many shades of gray between dark devils and shining angels Fascinating history I never knew， that explains so much about the relations between China and the West even today and tells a different sort of Holocaust story。 While Kaufman doesn't shy away from the dark legacies of colonialism and rampant capitalism， he also fairly demonstrates the enduring legacies of both that have benefited millions。 So many thoughts surfaced as I was reading this - legacies， history （both embraced and erased）， the many shades of gray between dark devils and shining angels， and how one person can literally change the world for so many。 。。。more

peter simon ，

Wonderful read 。learnt a lot about modern China， 19th to 21st century。Fascinating story about two Jewish families originally from Baghdad who prospered in Shanghai and Hong Kong。

Mimi Pollack ，

Very thorough historical account， was a bit boring to read but I kept through because the subject was so interesting。 I would have liked more dialogue， even if assumed。 I'm glad i read it， but by the last third I was counting the pages to be done。 Very thorough historical account， was a bit boring to read but I kept through because the subject was so interesting。 I would have liked more dialogue， even if assumed。 I'm glad i read it， but by the last third I was counting the pages to be done。 。。。more

Callum Hair ，

A fantastic read - great to get a quick perspective on some key moments in the modern history of China， particularly in Shanghai and Hong Kong。

Emily Shore ，

Excellent and compellingThis book is a non-fiction account of the Baghdadi Jews who emigrated to India， China and England。 It's the history of the Sassoon and the Kadoorie families。 Excellent and compellingThis book is a non-fiction account of the Baghdadi Jews who emigrated to India， China and England。 It's the history of the Sassoon and the Kadoorie families。 。。。more

Tim Joseph ，

Super interesting and well researched。。。 unveiled a unique behind the scenes of Shanghai's rises and falls attributed to the efforts of two Jewish families。 Spanning decades， the work these rivals did both culturally and societally is amazing！ Super interesting and well researched。。。 unveiled a unique behind the scenes of Shanghai's rises and falls attributed to the efforts of two Jewish families。 Spanning decades， the work these rivals did both culturally and societally is amazing！ 。。。more

Melissa Williams ，

This read like a who's who of colonial Shanghai， and since I didn't know anyone， it was very exciting to read。 We meet the Sassoons， and the Kadooris， capitalists of the late 1800s and early 1900s who flee from Baghdad to Shanghai and Hong Kong。 They trade in opium， rubber， textiles， and build infrastructure for business。 Then in WW2， they take in thousands of refugees from Germany。 We read about the Nationalists of China and the Communist take over of Shanghai。We also meet a host of people who This read like a who's who of colonial Shanghai， and since I didn't know anyone， it was very exciting to read。 We meet the Sassoons， and the Kadooris， capitalists of the late 1800s and early 1900s who flee from Baghdad to Shanghai and Hong Kong。 They trade in opium， rubber， textiles， and build infrastructure for business。 Then in WW2， they take in thousands of refugees from Germany。 We read about the Nationalists of China and the Communist take over of Shanghai。We also meet a host of people who interacted with these families。 Now， I have a list of other people I would like to know more about。 That made it an excellent read for me。 My only complaint is that I wish there were more photos。 。。。more

Oleksandr Zholud ，

This is a non-fic history of several generations of Jewish families， which came to China in XIX century and became one of the richest men in Shanghai prior to its fall to communists in 1949。 I read is as a part of monthly reading for March 2021 at Non Fiction Book Club group。While the title stresses kings plural， the first family， Sassoons gets much more space。 This is an old line that lived in Bagdad for generations， and was one of the richest Jewish families there。 Members of the family often This is a non-fic history of several generations of Jewish families， which came to China in XIX century and became one of the richest men in Shanghai prior to its fall to communists in 1949。 I read is as a part of monthly reading for March 2021 at Non Fiction Book Club group。While the title stresses kings plural， the first family， Sassoons gets much more space。 This is an old line that lived in Bagdad for generations， and was one of the richest Jewish families there。 Members of the family often acted as “Nasi，” or “Prince of the Jews”—Ottoman’s intermediary in dealing with Baghdad’s influential Jewish population。 In the 1820s local administration decided to get funds by imprisoning David Sassoon， heir apparent。 He runs away and settles in British India， starting with no money but a well known name in the region。 One of his sons， Elias， ended up in Shanghai and quickly started a lucrative opium trade， undercutting the previous leaders but joining forces with a local Chinese group。 Before the opium trade was outlawed the family controlled like 70% of it。 Sassoons mostly shifted to England and several became knights and barons。 WWI poet Siegfried Sassoon from this branch。The second family， started by Elly Kadoorie， who initially worked for Sassoons， but then managed his own business， Elly formed a stock brokerage company。 He almost got broke with investment in rubber in the early 1910s but ended up by consolidating rubber plantations under a single management。Both families actively invested in real estate in Shanghai， including the most magnificent hotels。 In the 1930s they support 18000 Jews running from Nazis。 Japanese attitude toward Jew is curious， they assumed that books like The Protocols of the Elders of Zion （a fabricated antisemitic text） were true and Jews really rule world behind scenes， but they should not be destroyed， but used instead。 Therefore majority of Jews who ended up in Shanghai survived。 。。。more

Phyllis Bismanovsky ，

Growing up I was taught very little about China。 The background presented in this book really helped to to understand the movers and shakers and how China was able to become a world power。 A very interesting and well written history。

Lillian ，

Very informative re history of two Jewish families in China as well as offering insights into current political tensions

Heidi Green ，

Fascinating history well told if a bit one-sided。

Suzanne Gourluck ，

A fantastic and enthralling read about two families and a fascinating part of history。 This book has helped me to better understand the Chinese position towards foreigners and appreciate why China behaves the way it does and I think it has much to teach us all。

Angela Han ，

The history of Shanghai was fascinating。 It was an informative read about jewish family who grow their wealth through diplomacy and wise investments。 Despite being ousted from Shanghai and targeted from Chinese government， they continued to grow into international presence。 They lived a lavish life yet directly contributed to the community。 They were leaders who were wealthy and took care of their community。 Im not referring to merely financial contribution。 They went beyond in providing educati The history of Shanghai was fascinating。 It was an informative read about jewish family who grow their wealth through diplomacy and wise investments。 Despite being ousted from Shanghai and targeted from Chinese government， they continued to grow into international presence。 They lived a lavish life yet directly contributed to the community。 They were leaders who were wealthy and took care of their community。 Im not referring to merely financial contribution。 They went beyond in providing education and a home for the refugees in hard times。 。。。more

Bill Forsyth ，

Excellent read if you enjoy business history， with an interesting perspective of communist china through the lens of western businesses。 Enjoyed reading of the early Sassoons and Kadoories in China。 Smooth and enjoyable。 I wish the author had not added ended the book with his own opinion and subjective criticism of key characters。 In fact he shouldn't have begun， ended， or otherwise added that to the book。 Recommended reading though。 Great respect to the Sassoons and the Kadoories。 Well done。 Br Excellent read if you enjoy business history， with an interesting perspective of communist china through the lens of western businesses。 Enjoyed reading of the early Sassoons and Kadoories in China。 Smooth and enjoyable。 I wish the author had not added ended the book with his own opinion and subjective criticism of key characters。 In fact he shouldn't have begun， ended， or otherwise added that to the book。 Recommended reading though。 Great respect to the Sassoons and the Kadoories。 Well done。 Bravo！ 。。。more

Debbie Ginsberg ，

Not a part of Jewish history we hear about very often。

Dawn Ross ，

I really enjoyed this book。 There was a lot of history that was presented in a very interesting way。 It is a fascinating read。

Pearl ，

Couldn't put the book down。 It was well written， very interesting and almost read like a novel。 I grew up in Hong Kong and never knew about the the 2 families。 This book is an eye opener to the past going-ons in Shanghai and Hong Kong。 A part of it was never taught to the students of Hong Kong， at least during my time。 Couldn't put the book down。 It was well written， very interesting and almost read like a novel。 I grew up in Hong Kong and never knew about the the 2 families。 This book is an eye opener to the past going-ons in Shanghai and Hong Kong。 A part of it was never taught to the students of Hong Kong， at least during my time。 。。。more

Dominic Arbuthnott ，

Fascinating study of two Jewish families ascent to wealth and influence in the Far East。 Recommended

Michele A。 ，

learned so much about how two Jewish families helped to build Shanghai。 Some discussion at book club about "was it on the backs of the local people， and is that okay？" Little discussion about that social question in the book， although some relationships seemed to endure even after the family's departure indicating more than just an employer / employee connection。 learned so much about how two Jewish families helped to build Shanghai。 Some discussion at book club about "was it on the backs of the local people， and is that okay？" Little discussion about that social question in the book， although some relationships seemed to endure even after the family's departure indicating more than just an employer / employee connection。 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The Last Kings of Shanghai: The Rival Jewish Dynasties That Helped Create Modern China

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The Last Kings of Shanghai: The Rival Jewish Dynasties That Helped Create Modern China&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,The Last Kings of Shanghai: The Rival Jewish Dynasties That Helped Create Modern China&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0