The Old Shanghai A-Z

The Old Shanghai A-Z presents a comprehensive encyclopedia of Shanghai's past, focusing on the city's golden age from the 1920s through the 1940s. French organizes the entries alphabetically, covering everything from architecture and crime to personalities and entertainment venues. The book combines historical records, newspaper archives, and personal accounts to document both major events and everyday life in old Shanghai. Each entry provides context about the city's international settlements, cultural clashes, and the complex social hierarchy that existed during this era. The collection of entries creates a vivid portrait of a unique period when Shanghai was known as both "The Paris of the East" and "The Whore of Asia." Through its encyclopedic format, the book reveals the interconnected nature of Shanghai's communities - Chinese, British, American, French, and others - who shaped the city's character. This unconventional approach to historical documentation captures the essence of Shanghai's pre-communist period, demonstrating how the city's past continues to influence its present identity. The format allows readers to explore history through specific points of interest rather than traditional chronological narrative.

Readers describe this guide as a mix between a dictionary and a historical reference, with brief entries covering Shanghai's pre-1949 landmarks, personalities, and cultural elements. Many note its usefulness as a companion while reading other Shanghai-focused books. Readers appreciated: - Quick-reference format for looking up specific people and places - Inclusion of photos and maps - Focus on lesser-known historical details - Cross-referencing between entries Common criticisms: - Entries can be too brief - Some facts disputed by historians - Limited scope (primarily pre-1949) - Print is small and hard to read Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (43 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (12 ratings) Notable reader comment: "Perfect for dipping in and out of rather than reading cover to cover. I keep coming back to check details whenever I read anything about old Shanghai." - Goodreads reviewer

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Life and Death in Shanghai by Nien Cheng A memoir of Shanghai during the Cultural Revolution maps the transformation of the city through personal experiences in specific streets and buildings.

Shanghai Grand by Taras Grescoe A chronicle of 1930s Shanghai focuses on the hotels, bars, and entertainment venues that made the city a crossroads of intrigue and espionage.

Empire Made Me by Robert Bickers A biography of a Shanghai Municipal Policeman reveals the colonial architecture, neighborhoods, and power structures of International Settlement Shanghai.

Shanghai Style by Lynn Pan A social history examines Shanghai's distinctive culture through its art deco buildings, fashion houses, dance halls, and shopping districts.

🌟 Paul French lived in Shanghai for over two decades, allowing him to deeply explore the city's hidden corners and forgotten stories while researching this book. 🏛️ The Old Shanghai period covered in the book (1842-1949) saw the city transform from a small fishing village into the "Paris of the East," becoming one of the world's most cosmopolitan cities. 🗞️ Author Paul French also wrote the bestselling true-crime book "Midnight in Peking," which won the Edgar Award for Best Fact Crime and was a New York Times Bestseller. 🎭 Shanghai's infamous Badlands district, detailed in the book, was home to over 150 brothels, numerous opium dens, and gambling houses during the 1920s and 1930s. 🏰 The book reveals how Shanghai's International Settlement and French Concession operated as "cities within a city," complete with their own police forces, courts, and municipal councils.