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Paul French

    Paul French is a distinguished writer with a deep understanding of China's economic and market landscape. His work delves into the evolving consumer culture and historical narratives of the region, offering insightful perspectives on both contemporary life and its roots. French's engaging prose brings complex subjects to life, making his explorations of Asian economics and history accessible and compelling for a broad readership.

    City of Devils
    The North Korea : state of paranoia
    Midnight in Peking
    Badlands: Decadent Playground of Old Peking
    Strangers on the Praia: A Tale of Refugees and Resistance in Wartime Macao
    Destination Peking
    • 2024

      Destination Macao

      • 320 stránek
      • 12 hodin čtení

      Exploring the rich tapestry of Macao's history, this collection features 18 true stories of remarkable individuals who visited the former Portuguese enclave during the 19th and 20th centuries. It highlights Macao's role as a cultural melting pot, showcasing diverse influences from art to cinema. The narratives delve into the lives of those drawn to the region for wealth, adventure, or sanctuary from conflict, revealing the multifaceted allure of Macao beyond its notorious reputation.

      Destination Macao
    • 2024

      Her Lotus Year

      China, The Roaring Twenties and the Making of Wallis Simpson

      • 320 stránek
      • 12 hodin čtení

      The book delves into the early life of Wallis Simpson, exploring the controversial events and influences that shaped her into a figure of intrigue. Through meticulous research, the author reveals the complexities of her character and the societal pressures she faced, offering insights into her relationships and the historical context of her time. This examination sheds light on a pivotal moment that would later impact the British monarchy and captivate the public's imagination.

      Her Lotus Year
    • 2021

      Focusing on the experiences of Jewish refugees during wartime, the narrative explores their journey from Shanghai to Macao, a Portuguese colony known as "the Casablanca of the Orient." Drawing from true stories and new research, Paul French highlights the challenges and hopes faced by these individuals as they sought a path to freedom amidst the turmoil of war.

      Strangers on the Praia: A Tale of Refugees and Resistance in Wartime Macao
    • 2021

      Destination Peking

      • 320 stránek
      • 12 hodin čtení
      4,1(8)Ohodnotit

      New York Times bestselling author Paul French (Midnight in Peking) returns to the Chinese capital to tell 18 true stories of fascinating people - many Americans among them - who visited the city in the first half of the 20th century. From the ultra-wealthy Woolworths heiress Barbara Hutton and her husband the Prince Mdivani, to the poor "American girl" Mona Monteith, who worked in the city as a prostitute; from socialite Wallis Simpson and novelist JP Marquand, who held court on the rooftop of the Grand H�tel de P�kin, to Hollywood screenwriter Harry Hervey, who sought inspiration walking atop the Tartar Wall; from Edgar and Helen Foster Snow - Peking's 'It' couple of 1935 - to Martha Sawyers, who did so much to aid China against Japan in World War II; Destination Peking brings a lost pre-communist era back to life.

      Destination Peking
    • 2019

      Destination Shanghai

      • 296 stránek
      • 11 hodin čtení

      For the privileged a cosmopolitan pleasure ground; For the desperate a port of last resort. A pot of gold at the end of an Oriental rainbow; A thick slice of hell denounced from the pulpit. A place to find fame, or to seek anonymity; Rogues, chancers, showgirls, criminals... For so many people from so many lands, there was one phrase that sent a shiver of anticipation down every spine: "DESTINATION SHANGHAI"

      Destination Shanghai
    • 2018

      Bloody Saturday: Shanghai's Darkest Day

      • 116 stránek
      • 5 hodin čtení

      Set against the backdrop of a tumultuous summer in 1937, the narrative unfolds the harrowing events of a devastating bombing in Shanghai. Through vivid eyewitness accounts, the author captures the chaos and destruction that unfolded as the city faced an unprecedented aerial assault. The precise moment the clock stopped at 4:27 p.m. marks the beginning of a tragedy that would claim countless lives. With masterful storytelling, the book delves into the profound loss experienced by real individuals, offering an intimate glimpse into Shanghai's history during this dark chapter.

      Bloody Saturday: Shanghai's Darkest Day
    • 2018

      City of Devils

      • 320 stránek
      • 12 hodin čtení
      3,5(21)Ohodnotit

      A spellbinding and dramatic account of Shanghai's lawless 1930s and two of its most notorious criminals, by the author of the prize winning Midnight in Peking

      City of Devils
    • 2015

      Set in pre-communist Beijing's notorious Badlands, the narrative explores the lives of eight diverse characters from the 1920s and 1930s. Paul French vividly depicts a world filled with contrasting figures, including brothel madams, exploitative pimps, and young prostitutes grappling with addiction. Among them is Tatiana Korovina, a resilient cabaret dancer who defies the district's vices, and Joe Knauf, an American entangled in crime. The enigmatic Shura Giraldi, a master criminal, adds intrigue as the self-proclaimed King of the Badlands, highlighting the area's complex social tapestry.

      Badlands: Decadent Playground of Old Peking
    • 2015

      The North Korea : state of paranoia

      • 480 stránek
      • 17 hodin čtení
      3,6(15)Ohodnotit

      North Korea continues to make headlines, arousing curiosity and fear in equal measure. The world's most secretive nuclear power, it still has Gulag-style prison camps, allows no access to the Internet and bans its people from talking to foreigners without official approval. In this remarkable and eye-opening book, internationally best-selling author Paul French examines in forensic detail the history and politics of North Korea, Pyongyang's complex relations with South Korea, Japan, China and America, and the implications of Kim Jong-un's increasingly belligerent leadership following the death of his father, Kim Jong-il. As an already unstable North Korea grows ever more unpredictable, antagonizing enemies and allies alike, North Korea: State of Paranoia delivers a provocative and frightening account of a potentially explosive nuclear tripwire.

      The North Korea : state of paranoia
    • 2014

      North Korea is a country that continues to make headlines—arousing curiosity and fear in equal measure. The world’s most secretive nuclear power, it is a nation that still has Gulag-style prison camps, no internet, and bans its people from talking to foreigners without official approval. In this remarkable and eye-opening book, bestselling author Paul French takes the reader inside the world’s most secretive country. He examines the history and politics of North Korea, Pyongyang’s complex relations with South Korea, Japan, and America. As China begins to tire of its unruly ally, what are the implications of Kim Jong-un’s increasingly belligerent leadership following the death of his father, Kim Jong-il? As an already unstable North Korea grows ever more unpredictable, antagonizing enemies and allies alike, North Korea: State of Paranoia, delivers a provocative and frightening account of a potentially explosive nuclear tripwire.

      North Korea: State of Paranoia