Getting Stuck in For Shanghai: Putting the Kibosh on the Kaiser from the Bund: The British at Shanghai and the Great War: Penguin Special

by Robert Bickers

After 1914, between tiffin and a day at the race track, the British in Shanghai enjoyed a life far removed from the horrors of the Great War. Shanghai's status as a treaty port - with its foreign concessions home to expatriates from every corner of the globe - made it the most cosmopolitan city in Asia. The city's inhabitants on either side of the conflict continued to mix socially to mix socially after the outbreak of war, the bond amongst foreign nationals being almost as strong as that between countrymen. But as news of the slaughter spread of the Far East, and in particular the sinking of the Lusitania, their ambivalence turned to antipathy.

Genres: China, History

138 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 4, 2014

About the author

Robert Bickers is Professor of History and Director of the 'Historical Photographs of China' project at the University of Bristol.

Reviews

[Loughlin Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, would’ve enjoyed this if it was slightly condensed into like a podcast

[Bea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book looks at the "Shanghai Contingent" with a focus on British men living in Shanghai who enlisted to fight in the first world war, coming over on the same ship and largely fighting in the same regiment. It was interesting to hear about the unique experience in Shanghai as such a multicultural city had many British and German companies working together and much of the city's social life had to be re-navigated in light of the war.

It was also interesting to read about how information travelled back to Shanghai and how it was received and this was a largely entertaining read, easy to read in one sitting.

[Stephen Sloan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good reading.

Shanghai was unique in 1914. Never the same afterwards. The rise of Japan was on the horizon.
Well worth reading

[Melaslithos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice insight on the spirit of Shanghailanders regarding WW1 and the contrast between life in the trenches and how a very cosmopolite city on the other side of the world approached their civil duties.

[Ian McHugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A brief and interesting coverage of the British in Shanghai during WWI.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short, sharp read.

[Joshua · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well researched, but slight. Read "Empire Made Me," instead.