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Indlæser... King Hui: The Man Who Owned All the Opium in Hong Kongaf Jonathan Chamberlain
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A remarkably accessible depiction of life under British and Japanese control... it effectively exposes the sordid underbelly of colonial society as we're led down a path of scandal, corruption, drugs, espionage, and of course pirates, providing a fascinating alternative to the often stuffy discourse on the subject. The book is an incredibly informative read, and a must for all Hong Kong enthusiasts. Hui’s story gives us glimpses of a Hong Kong – the opium dens, the pool halls, the nightclubs, the casinos and the girls, girls, girls – not adequately reflected in official histories of the city. Suzie Wong, the cinematic representation of the Hong Kong of this era, could have been Hui's girlfriend – at least before William Holden butted in. ... The book's biggest achievement, however, is that its protagonist’s triumphs and tragedies wind up underscoring the dynamism of the city and the times that shaped him.
Scandal and corruption, drugs and pirates, triads and flower boats; the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong and the Communist take-over of Canton. Peter Hui was there. He knew everybody and saw everything. This is the real story of Hong Kong, told with the rich flavours of the street. If Peter had been only a little bit different he could have been an important man. But this is a riches to rags to riches to rags story. As we follow Peter's life, we see in sharp focus what it was like to be a Chinese man in the British territory of Hong Kong through most of the years of the 20th century. And yet this book is not just one man's tale. It is the story of a time and place -- colonial Hong Kong, Portuguese Macau and the South China hinterland -- seen from the unique point of view of a man who was at home at all levels of society. This is the bizarre story of a man who really did, for a very short time, own all the opium in Hong Kong. If Suzie Wong had been a real person, Peter Hui would have known her. No library descriptions found. |
Forfatter-snakJonathan Chamberlain chatted with LibraryThing members from May 1, 2012 to May 5, 2012. Read the chat. Current DiscussionsIngenPopulære omslag
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