Michael Dillon is professor of history and an affiliate of King’s College London’s Lau China Institute. An expert on modern Chinese history, politics, and society, he is the author of numerous books, including We Need to Talk About Xi, a history of modern China, and biographies of Zhou Enlai and Deng Xiaoping.

“A compelling book that will resonate for many readers, especially those who share the author’s interest in politics.”—Stephen R. Platt, Wall Street Journal“An affectionate, knowledgeable, and highly readable account of the past and present of one of the great global cities. Michael Dillon draws on his long experience both with China, and with the city itself, to give an account from the very earliest origins, to the industrial, political and cultural drama of the 20th century—and the status of the city today as the country’s most powerful statement of modernity with Chinese characteristics.”—Kerry Brown, author of The Great Reversal“A wonderfully clear and comprehensive depiction of one of the leading cities of the twenty-first century. Michael Dillon really does know every back street and neighbourhood, and his book covers all the contrasting manifestations of life in the old city—Chinese and Europeans, traders and compradores, industrialists and stockbrokers, writers and journalists, gangsters and revolutionaries, luxury and squalor.”—Philip Snow, author of China and Russia

Michael Dillon is professor of history and an affiliate of King’s College London’s Lau China Institute. An expert on modern Chinese history, politics, and society, he is the author of numerous books, including We Need to Talk About Xi, a history of modern China, and biographies of Zhou Enlai and Deng Xiaoping.

“A compelling book that will resonate for many readers, especially those who share the author’s interest in politics.”—Stephen R. Platt, Wall Street Journal“An affectionate, knowledgeable, and highly readable account of the past and present of one of the great global cities. Michael Dillon draws on his long experience both with China, and with the city itself, to give an account from the very earliest origins, to the industrial, political and cultural drama of the 20th century—and the status of the city today as the country’s most powerful statement of modernity with Chinese characteristics.”—Kerry Brown, author of The Great Reversal“A wonderfully clear and comprehensive depiction of one of the leading cities of the twenty-first century. Michael Dillon really does know every back street and neighbourhood, and his book covers all the contrasting manifestations of life in the old city—Chinese and Europeans, traders and compradores, industrialists and stockbrokers, writers and journalists, gangsters and revolutionaries, luxury and squalor.”—Philip Snow, author of China and Russia

Michael Dillon is professor of history and an affiliate of King’s College London’s Lau China Institute. An expert on modern Chinese history, politics, and society, he is the author of numerous books, including We Need to Talk About Xi, a history of modern China, and biographies of Zhou Enlai and Deng Xiaoping.

“A compelling book that will resonate for many readers, especially those who share the author’s interest in politics.”—Stephen R. Platt, Wall Street Journal“An affectionate, knowledgeable, and highly readable account of the past and present of one of the great global cities. Michael Dillon draws on his long experience both with China, and with the city itself, to give an account from the very earliest origins, to the industrial, political and cultural drama of the 20th century—and the status of the city today as the country’s most powerful statement of modernity with Chinese characteristics.”—Kerry Brown, author of The Great Reversal“A wonderfully clear and comprehensive depiction of one of the leading cities of the twenty-first century. Michael Dillon really does know every back street and neighbourhood, and his book covers all the contrasting manifestations of life in the old city—Chinese and Europeans, traders and compradores, industrialists and stockbrokers, writers and journalists, gangsters and revolutionaries, luxury and squalor.”—Philip Snow, author of China and Russia