Rating: 
Summary: The underbelly of a great city
Review: While I've been to Shanghai many times, and took for granted its reputation, this is the first time I have read-----with all the detail from the Chinese and foreign side-----exactly what made Shanghai such a singular phenomona. Instead of the usual platitudes about corruption or energy, Stella Dong goes into all the detail. Some of this may be a bit scary to descendants of Shanghai's missionary community. But to those of us who find light with the "darker side", "Shanghai" is an unforgettable read. To be specific, we learn not only about the Chinese gangs, but how they controlled the "nice" European companies and were actually patriotic. (They reminded me of how Lucky Luciano became a great "patriot" for America in the Second World War.) Ms Dong goes into detail about the different grades of prostitutuion, both straight and gay. (The divisions are almost bureaucratic!). She is extremely politically incorrect about how Brits, Americans, French and Middle Eastern Jews made their way into Shanghai society. And unlike ANY other book about Shanghai, she writes, with great glee, about the Chinese gangsters. No, they hardly are saints in this book or reality. But let's face it: villains are always more interesting than heroes. Historians of Asia will find much new here, as will lovers of China. But this is a book for anybody who is fascinated by corruption, greed, ambition and, yes, the history of a most fascinating city.
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