Champions Day
The End of Old Shanghai

Thanks to Norton for the ARC. I enjoy reading books about sport and society and for me the hook to picking up this book was the horse racing. This is a good hook, however, the most interesting aspect is the social history of Shanghai, and the influences of colonialism and colonization. Well written,......more

James Carter, an historian at St. Joseph’s University, takes us into the horse racing world of antebellum Shanghai, culminating in the last competition for the Champions Cup on Nov. 12, 1941. He depicts a city of contrasting wealth and poverty, kindness and snobbery, where a great clash and melding......more

By focussing on just one pivotal day, 12 November 1941, author James Carter explores through this snapshot in time the complex history of Shanghai and its fall. Well researched, comprehensive, and clearly and accessibly written, I found this an informative and interesting read, and an exemplar of go......more

history of Shanghai until the war through the horse racing mania which transcended race and nationality, but reflected both in matters of who was allowed to attend, belong, etc A fairly gripping read and definitely recommended......more

The book was set on a day: November 12, 1941. Shanghai -- the Paris of the East at the time -- was spending its last days before the full occupation of the Japanese Imperial Army. Because of the International Settlements, it had become home to powerful foreign merchants, wealthy Chinese businessmen,......more