Empire Made Me

''Empire Made Me: An Englishman Adrift in Shanghai'' chronicles the life of Richard Maurice Tinkler, a British World War I veteran who served as a policeman in Shanghai's International Settlement during the 1920s and 1930s. Through extensive research and archival materials, Robert Bickers reconstructs Tinkler's career in the Shanghai Municipal Police, where he developed a reputation for both competence and brutality in one of the world's most dangerous cities of that era. The book follows Tinkler's navigation of Shanghai's complex social and political landscape, including his interactions with Chinese civilians, fellow officers, and the various international powers that controlled different sections of the city. This biography uses one man's story to examine larger themes about British imperialism, masculinity in colonial settings, and the ways Empire shaped the identities and behaviors of those who served it.

Readers describe this biography as a detailed look at the dark side of British imperialism through one policeman's story in Shanghai. Many note it reads like a detective story while providing historical context. Liked: - Deep research and archival work - Vivid depiction of 1920s-30s Shanghai - Balance between personal narrative and broader history - Clear writing style makes complex history accessible Disliked: - Some sections feel repetitive - Too much detail about minor events - Beginning chapters move slowly - Limited source material about subject's early life creates gaps Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (185 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (28 ratings) Multiple readers praised Bickers' ability to reconstruct Shanghai's foreign police force culture. One reviewer noted "it perfectly captures the mindset of European colonials." Several mentioned the book worked better as social history than biography due to source limitations. Common criticism focused on pacing issues in the first third of the book.

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🌏 Shanghai's International Settlement maintained its own police force, courts, and municipal government until 1943, functioning almost like a separate city-state within China. 🚔 The Shanghai Municipal Police force employed officers from multiple nationalities, including British, Chinese, Indian (Sikh), and Japanese personnel, making it one of the most diverse police forces of its time. ✍️ Author Robert Bickers is considered one of the leading historians of Sino-British relations, having spent decades researching in archives across China, Taiwan, and Europe. 💂‍♂️ Richard Maurice Tinkler served in the Lancashire Fusiliers during WWI before joining the Shanghai Municipal Police, representing a common pattern of war veterans seeking opportunities in colonial service. 🏙️ 1920s Shanghai was known as the "Paris of the East," home to more than 60,000 foreigners and featuring a unique mixture of Chinese and Western architecture, culture, and business practices.