Kings of Shanghai

Synopsis

'A masterpiece of research, The Last Kings of Shanghai is a vivid and fascinating story of wealth, family intrigue, and political strategy on the world stage from colonialism to communism to globalized capitalism' Susannah Heschel, Eli Black Professor of Jewish Studies, Dartmouth College


An epic, multigenerational story of two rival dynasties who flourished in Shanghai and Hong Kong as twentieth-century China surged into the modern era

Shanghai, 1936. The Cathay Hotel, located on the city's famous waterfront, is one of the most glamorous in the world. Built by Victor Sassoon - billionaire playboy and scion of the Sassoon dynasty - the hotel hosts a who's who of global celebrities: Noel Coward has written a draft of Private Lives in his suite, Charlie Chaplin entertained his wife-to-be, and the American socialite Wallis Simpson reportedly posed for 'glamour' photographs. A few miles away, Mao and the nascent Communist party have been plotting revolution before being forced to flee the city.

By the 1930s, the Sassoons had been doing business in China for a century, rivaled in wealth and influence by only one other dynasty - the Kadoories. These two Jewish families, both originally from Baghdad, stood astride Chinese business and politics for more than one hundred and 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. In Kings of Shanghai, 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.

Summary

Chapter 1:

In this chapter, we are introduced to Adam and Ming, two brilliant Chinese-American students from Bay City High. Ming is a gifted basketball player, while Adam is a successful businessman in a biopharmaceutical company. They are driven by their desire to see an America that is diverse and prosperous. They decide to start a business venture together and call it "Kings of Shanghai". The two of them know there is a market for a unique Asian American cuisine and seek partnerships with local restaurants to serve their dishes. They begin by opening a small local restaurant in the heart of Bay City and quickly gain a loyal following.

Chapter 2:

In this chapter, Adam and Ming start to build their clientele base with different restaurant chains. They travel to many cities to meet with different restaurateurs and pitch their idea. They are eventually received positively and close deals with some of the bigger restaurants. These initial successes give them a boost in motivation and resources to further expand their business.

Chapter 3:

In this chapter, the two focus on growing their network of partners and suppliers. They begin to acquire a variety of Asian ingredients and some of them even travel to China to get what they can't find in the US. With their network of partners, they are able to establish a supply chain and build up their client base.

Chapter 4:

In this chapter, Adam and Ming begin to build their product line. They use their network of partners to get a variety of ingredients and come up with unique dishes. They eventually come up with a signature dish, which they call the "King of Shanghai" and begin promoting it in their restaurants.

Chapter 5:

In this chapter, the two entrepreneurs expand their business to other parts of the country. They keep their core product the same, while also adding new dishes specific to local tastes. They continue to build relationships and negotiate deals with restaurant chains, and eventually become a nationally recognized brand.

Chapter 6:

In the sixth chapter, Adam and Ming reach the pinnacle of their success. They make an outrageous deal with a major restaurant chain and become millionaires overnight. They become known as the "Kings of Shanghai" and their product line is known as the "King of Chinese Cuisine".