Description
Empire Made Me: An Englishman Adrift in Shanghai by Robert Bickers is a compelling historical biography that uses the life of an ordinary man to illuminate the complexities of the British Empire in twentieth-century China.
Set in interwar Shanghai, the book follows an English First World War veteran who joins the city’s police force during a period of political upheaval, social unrest, and rapid change. Drawing on the man’s rediscovered letters, photographs, and personal papers, Bickers reconstructs his experiences against the backdrop of colonial administration, organised crime, international intrigue, and the growing tensions between Chinese nationalists, communists, and foreign powers.
Blending meticulous historical research with vivid storytelling, the book offers a fascinating insight into everyday life in one of the world’s most extraordinary cities while examining the human consequences of empire, identity, and colonial rule.
Note: This copy is signed by the author, making it especially appealing to collectors of modern historical non-fiction.
