Jonathan Kaufman Bücher

"In vivid detail... examines the little-known history of two extraordinary dynasties."--The Boston Globe "Not just a brilliant, well-researched, and highly readable book about China's past, it also reveals the contingencies and ironic twists of fate in China's modern history."--LA Review of Books An epic, multigenerational story of two rival dynasties who flourished in Shanghai and Hong Kong as twentieth-century China surged into the modern era, from the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist The Sassoons and the Kadoories stood astride Chinese business and politics for more than one hundred seventy-five years, profiting from the Opium Wars; surviving Japanese occupation; courting Chiang Kai-shek; and nearly losing everything as the Communists swept into power. Jonathan Kaufman tells the remarkable history of how these families ignited an economic boom and opened China to the world, but remained blind to the country's deep inequality and to the political turmoil on their doorsteps. In a story stretching from Baghdad to Hong Kong to Shanghai to London, Kaufman enters the lives and minds of these ambitious men and women to forge a tale of opium smuggling, family rivalry, political intrigue, and survival.

Spanning nearly a century, from the years preceding the Holocaust to the present day, Jonathan Kaufman narrates the stories of five families, exploring the complex cultural and religious landscape of Eastern Europe. The narrative unfolds in Berlin, where a prominent Jewish family clings to Communist ideals post-Cold War. A West German cantor and concentration camp survivor crosses the Berlin Wall to serve the Jewish community in East Berlin. In Hungary, a rabbi becomes a dissident when Communist leaders dismiss him, yet he continues teaching Hebrew in his living room, fighting to preserve Jewish life. Meanwhile, young citizens in Prague, Warsaw, and Budapest rediscover their heritage, finding renewed faith and pride despite the scars of war and oppression. A Polish Catholic woman silently witnesses the suffering of her Jewish neighbors during World War II and later uncovers a truth that challenges her understanding of her own past. From the old to the young, and the disenchanted to the enthusiastic, each character ultimately arrives at a place of cultural and religious renewal. This work offers a luminous portrait of the enduring, albeit transformed, Jewish life that remains a vital part of the European community.

The narrative follows Zeb, Kiara, and Leo, three individuals navigating the complexities of learning disabilities and mental health challenges in America. Each has endured personal hardships but refuses to be defined by them. As they transition from isolated youths to resilient adults, they confront ongoing difficulties while striving to impact a society that frequently neglects those who learn differently. Their journey highlights themes of perseverance, self-acceptance, and the importance of advocating for oneself and others.

The book emphasizes the importance of individual action in addressing global issues, asserting that while one person may seem insignificant, each can contribute to meaningful change. It encourages readers to adopt sustainable practices, such as reducing car use and modifying dietary habits, while also advocating for activism against corporate pollution and misinformation. By promoting proactive measures over passivity and despair, the work inspires a sense of responsibility and empowerment in confronting pressing environmental and social challenges.

Kings of Shanghai is at once the intimate story of two families and a sweeping account of how modern Shanghai was born.