Customer Reviews

Hong Kong (Great Cities)

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One of 25 books in "The Great Cities" series from time life, this title describes the history, development, culture, and daily life of Hong Kong and its residents.

Elegant's writing is particularly descriptive and even at times poetic for a non-fiction title. He describes the turbulent history of the city, including the imperialistic origins, opium wars, and post World War II development. The food, cultural traditions and superstitions, geography, and business development are unveiled beautifully and practically for the reader.

Although the book could be considered to be out of date to some (as it was published in the late 1970's), I particularly enjoyed seeing what the city was like in the 70's and how it has changed over the years. Those familiar with the city can enjoy the book in a nostalgic sense. The photographs are very engaging in that they focus on the everyday life of the city's residents, their culture and customs.

The Great Cities/Hong Kong is one of twenty-five volumes in the Time-Life book series The Great Cities. This book portrays one of the most densely populated and economically significant areas in the world. Topics covered include the founding of Hong Kong by Britain, the Opium Wars, the economic development of Hong Kong, annual festivals, religious beliefs and myths, the Chinese cuisines found in Hong Kong, and espionage. The book concludes with a discussion of the problems facing Hong Kong such as corruption, overcrowding, and materialism. A time line and map are included. Author Robert Elegant and photographer Brian Brake have done an excellent job of describing this fascinating city in both words and pictures. I especially enjoyed the chapters entitled Men, Gods and Spirits and An Infinitely Varied Cuisine. In sum, The Great Cities/Hong Kong is a wonderful book about a great city. Highly recommended.