Carl Crow - A Tough Old China Hand

Carl Crow - A Tough Old China Hand chronicles the life and career of Carl Crow, an American journalist and advertising pioneer who lived in Shanghai from 1911 to 1937. The biography follows Crow's journey from Missouri to China, where he established himself as a newspaper publisher and advertising executive. The book details Crow's significant contributions to Western business in China, including founding China's first Western-style advertising agency and writing influential books about Chinese markets and culture. Through Crow's experiences, readers witness the dramatic transformation of Shanghai during a period of intense modernization and political upheaval. Paul French reconstructs Crow's story using archival materials, personal correspondence, and Crow's own published works to paint a picture of expatriate life in early 20th century China. The narrative tracks Crow's activities through major historical events including the fall of the Qing Dynasty, the rise of the Nationalist government, and the lead-up to the Second Sino-Japanese War. This biography illuminates the complex relationship between China and the West during a pivotal period, while exploring themes of cultural adaptation, entrepreneurship, and survival in turbulent times. Through Crow's story, the book examines how foreigners navigated and influenced China's emergence into the modern world.

Readers appreciate the detailed research into Carl Crow's life in Shanghai and his role documenting China's transformation in the early 20th century. Many note the book provides context for understanding modern China-Western relations through Crow's experiences as a businessman and author. Readers highlight French's use of Crow's personal papers and contemporary sources to reconstruct daily life in old Shanghai. Several reviewers mention learning about the complex social dynamics between Chinese, Western, and Japanese communities during this period. Main criticism focuses on the dense historical details that some found slowed the narrative. A few readers wanted more analysis of Crow's personal life versus his professional activities. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (43 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (6 ratings) From a Goodreads review: "French brings pre-war Shanghai alive through Crow's story, though at times gets bogged down in minutiae about business dealings."

Foreign Devils in the Flowery Kingdom by Carl Crow Through firsthand accounts, this book presents life and business in Old Shanghai during the same era as Crow's experiences.

Empire Made Me: An Englishman Adrift in Shanghai by Robert Bickers The biography of Richard Maurice Tinkler reveals the complex world of foreign police officers and power dynamics in 1920s Shanghai.

City of Devils: The Two Men Who Ruled the Underworld of Old Shanghai by Paul French This narrative follows two criminals who built empires in 1930s Shanghai, depicting the same bustling pre-war period Crow experienced.

The Last Kings of Shanghai by Jonathan Kaufman The story tracks two Jewish families who became major players in Shanghai's business world during the early 20th century.

Shanghai's Dancing World by Andrew David Field The book examines Shanghai's nightlife and entertainment culture during the exact period when Carl Crow was operating his advertising agency in the city.

🌟 Carl Crow pioneered modern advertising in China, creating the first advertisements featuring Chinese models and establishing Shanghai's first Western-style advertising agency in 1918. 🌏 While living in Shanghai, Crow wrote the first-ever English-language tourist guidebook to China, publishing the groundbreaking "Handbook for China" in 1915. 📚 Author Paul French lived in Shanghai for many years, following in Crow's footsteps and accessing previously untapped archives to piece together Crow's remarkable story. 🗞️ As a journalist, Carl Crow interviewed Sun Yat-sen multiple times and was the first Western reporter to break the news of the 1911 Chinese Revolution to the outside world. 🕵️ During World War II, Crow worked for the U.S. Office of War Information, using his extensive knowledge of Asia to assist with propaganda efforts against Japan.