Random Things Tours: The Shanghai Wife by Emma Harcourt

 

I´ve read quite a few history books set in China during the first half of the last century, particularly the 1920s and the 1940s, but not too many novels. Given my wellknown reluctance to historical novels, it makes sense, but this year I decided to give more chances to literary creativity set in specific timeframes of the past. Thus, my decision to read and review The Shanghai Wife, the debut novel by Australia-based Emma Harcourt.  

The book was inspired by the author´s grandmother story that lived in Shanghai in the mid 1920s and the beginning of the 1930s, times for tremendous changes and turmoil in this part of the world too, as everywhere in the world. The imagined Shanghai of the book is reflecting the usual descriptions of the city in other non-fictional accounts as well: multicultural, booming with businesses, with a penchant for opium - which was a lucrative endeavour as well. 

The ambiance descriptions are so vivid and genuine that you feel transported in that specific time and moment and place without ever leaving your home. 

But the most important element of the book is, definitely the story. Annie Brand arrives from Australia in the international Shanghai with her husband, a ship captain. He leaves her alone to face the hardship of being abroad in a foreign world and even if the language is not an issue, the difficult political and social environment as well as the complexities of the expat life in Shanghai was taking its toll. 

The narrative builds up slowly, brick by brick, but one step further and we reached a different level of complexity and, sometimes, danger too. Annie is a strong and complex character with a big taste for adventure but the situations she is getting involved in are out of her control sometimes. Her everyday life seems to be in sync with the unfolding events on the streets of Shanghai and this double dynamism makes the story even more attractive.

The Shanghai Wife has all the good ingredients for a suspenseful and action-filled read: there is conspiracy, political mystery, forbidden love and dramatic romance. All put together in good wording which makes you curious to find out more about the history of Shanghai and especially of its people, locals or internationals that made its everyday history not so long ago. 

Rating: 4 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour, but the opinions are, as usual, my own