Disappearing Shanghai: Photographs and Poems of an Intimate Way of Life

Disappearing Shanghai pairs black and white street photography with poetry to document life in Shanghai's traditional neighborhoods before their demolition. The photographs were taken between 2003-2008 by journalist Howard W. French, while the accompanying poems are by Qiu Xiaolong. The images capture daily routines and intimate moments in Shanghai's old alleyways, courtyards, and communal spaces - areas that were rapidly being destroyed to make way for modern development. French's photographs focus on the elderly residents, street vendors, and working-class families who called these historic districts home. The combination of visual and written art forms creates a record of a vanishing way of life in one of China's most dynamic cities. Through careful observation of ordinary moments and spaces, the book examines themes of memory, progress, and the human cost of urban transformation.

Limited reviews exist online for this photography book. Of the available reviews, readers note the book successfully captures a disappearing way of life in Shanghai's old neighborhoods before their demolition and redevelopment. The photographs document street scenes, residents, and architecture from 2000-2008. What readers liked: - Black and white photography that evokes nostalgia - Intimate portraits of daily life in traditional lanes and alleyways - Poems by Qiu Xiaolong complement the visual storytelling - Historical documentation of neighborhoods that no longer exist What readers disliked: - High price point ($50+) - Limited availability/small print run - Some found the poetry unnecessary Ratings: Goodreads: 4.5/5 (only 2 ratings) Amazon: 5/5 (only 1 rating) Most discussion exists in academic/photography circles rather than consumer reviews. The Shanghai Daily newspaper praised French's ability to capture "Shanghai's vanishing lifestyle and culture."

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📸 Howard W. French spent nearly a decade documenting Shanghai's old neighborhoods before their demolition, capturing intimate portraits of residents in their traditional longtang alleyway homes and communal spaces. 🏗️ The book chronicles the rapid disappearance of Shanghai's historic neighborhoods during China's massive urban redevelopment push, with many areas featured in the photographs now completely transformed into modern developments. 🖋️ The photographs are accompanied by original poems written by QIU Xiaolong, a Shanghai-born crime novelist known for his Inspector Chen series, adding another layer of cultural and emotional depth to the visual narrative. 🎞️ All photographs in the book were shot on black and white film using a Leica rangefinder camera, a deliberate artistic choice that emphasizes the timeless quality of these vanishing communities. 🌏 French, primarily known as a New York Times foreign correspondent in Africa and Asia, taught himself photography while working as a journalist and developed this project independently of his reporting work.