Karavansara

East of Constantinople, West of Shanghai


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The Shanghai Illusion

hl08Who were Maurine Karns and Pat Patterson?
I don’t have much information on this strange duo, but the fact that in 1936 they published a guide to Shanghai that’s one of the most cherished (and fun) pieces in my collection.

The book (which was reprinted a few years ago by always reliable Earnshaw Books) is called Shanghai – High Lights, Low Lights, Tael Lights.
And it is absolutely outrageous.
In a good way, mind you! Continue reading


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Movin’ the River

So watch me hawk eye, understand
The force of will, the sleight of hand
Movin’ the river,

No, not a post about the Prefab Sprout (altho’ I might, one of these nights…)
No, fact is I went through All About Shanghai, A Standard Guidebook 1934-35, which was reprinted by Earnshaw Books and is absolutely great. Continue reading