The Last Kings of Shanghai

The book tells the remarkable history of how these two Sephardic Jewish families from Baghdad established themselves in British India and later became key players in the China trade.

They profited from the Opium Wars, survived Japanese occupation, and interacted with Chiang Kai-shek, but ultimately faced significant losses as the Communists took power.

Kaufman's narrative spans from Baghdad to Hong Kong to Shanghai to London, detailing opium smuggling, family rivalry, political intrigue, and survival, while also highlighting the deep inequalities and political turmoil in China during this period.