The game has begun, Hong Kong is the prize. Britain’s surrender of Hong Kong to China has been set for 1997. But not everyone is happy. Russia, in particular, dreads the catastrophic upheavals – strategic, economic and political – that must follow. The KGB plot to ensure that China will inherit only a worthless shell, racked by social and financial instability. Pitted against them are the elite cadres of Chinese Intelligence – the Mahjong Brigade. They need an insider, and their chosen instrument is Simon Young, Hong Kong’s pre-eminent British tycoon. Simon soon finds that his unparalleled commercial skills count for little in the spy world. Who to trust? Even his beautiful Chinese wife, Jinny, has secrets to conceal... A compelling financial espionage thriller from the acclaimed author of The Man Called Kyril. Praise for The Mahjong Spies ‘Intricate, tense, rich in characters, incident, drama and intriguing details of life in its exotic locale. Trenhaile will please the most ardent fans of spyfare with this gripping story’ Publishers Weekly ‘John Trenhaile has struck gold... a gripping tale of high finance and intrigue’ Manchester Evening News

In Composing for the Revolution: Nie Er and China’s Sonic Nationalism, Joshua Howard explores the role the songwriter Nie Er played in the 1930s proletarian arts movement and the process by which he became a nationalist icon. Composed only months before his untimely death in 1935, Nie Er’s last song, the “March of the Volunteers,” captured the rising anti-Japanese sentiment and was selected as China’s national anthem with the establishment of the People’s Republic. Nie was quickly canonized after his death and later recast into the “People’s Musician” during the 1950s, effectively becoming a national monument. Howard engages two historical paradigms that have dominated the study of twentieth-century China: revolution and modernity. He argues that Nie Er, active in the leftist artistic community and critical of capitalism, availed himself of media technology, especially the emerging sound cinema, to create a modern, revolutionary, and nationalist music. This thesis stands as a powerful corrective to a growing literature on the construction of a Chinese modernity, which has privileged the mass consumer culture of Shanghai and consciously sought to displace the focus on China’s revolutionary experience. Composing for the Revolution also provides insight into understudied aspects of China’s nationalism—its sonic and musical dimensions. Howard’s analyses highlights Nie’s extensive writings on the political function of music, examination of the musical techniques and lyrics of compositions within the context of left-wing cinema, and also the transmission of his songs through film, social movements, and commemoration. Nie Er shared multiple and overlapping identities based on regionalism, nationalism, and left-wing internationalism. His march songs, inspired by Soviet “mass songs,” combined Western musical structure and aesthetic with elements of Chinese folk music. The songs’ ideological message promoted class nationalism, but his “March of the Volunteers” elevated his music to a universal status thereby transcending the nation. Traversing the life and legacy of Nie Er, Howard offers readers a profound insight into the meanings of nationalism and memory in contemporary China. Composing for the Revolution underscores the value of careful reading of sources and the author’s willingness to approach a subject from multiple perspectives.

Disconnect from a device-oriented world and rediscover the classic Chinese game of mahjong—while improving focus, creativity and stimulating memory—with this comprehensive yet gifty guide that includes all the basics of the game, tips and techniques on how to play, and strategies to win both international mahjong and American mahjong. The classic game of mahjong was created over 2,000 years ago during the Qing Dynasty in China, but recently, it’s experiencing a renaissance. No longer reserved for older players, mahjong is being rediscovered by millennials and is recognized for its ability to improve brain function, and reduce symptoms of cognitive diseases like dementia. Learning any new game can be difficult, especially one as complex as mahjong, which includes over dozens of tiles with different meanings. But whether you are a complete novice or a casual player looking to brush up on mahjong skills and techniques, The Little Book of Mahjong can help you get ahead in this classic game, whether you are playing international mahjong or American mahjong. With a comprehensive breakdown on all of the various tiles involved in the different versions of the game, explanations of what each tile means, detailed information on scoring, tips on how to improve your skills, and strategies for winning, this guide is perfect for mahjong players both new and old. Including a brief history of the game and its significance as well as full-color photos of game pieces and game objectives, you’ll become a mahjong master in no time.

"I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Whether used as a reference or a beautiful keepsake, it's a very worthy addition to the world of Mah Jongg." --Ruth Unger, President, National Mah Jongg League This is the first book to fully capture the story of the exotic and exciting game of Mahjong or "Mah Jongg", offering an intimate look at the history of the game as well as the visual beauty of the tiles. When authors Ann Israel and Gregg Swain began playing Mahjong, they were unaware of the vintage collections that existed not only in the United States but also across the globe. Slowly, they started to collect their own sets of Mahjong and as their collections grew, so did their appreciation of the history of, and interest in, the game. Finding few references, Israel and Swain set out to create a book that chronicles the early beginnings of the game and documents Mahjong sets from the most basic, made simply of paper, to the most precious materials such as ivory and mother-of-pearl. Recognized and respected scholars and game experts have collaborated with Israel and Swain, contributing important chapters on the game's history and its pieces as well as technical information on the tiles. Lastly, great collectors from around the globe have shared their incredible sets and memories for the first time in one book for everyone to enjoy. With hundreds of beautiful new images by renowned photographer Michel Arnaud, and including historical documentation and ephemera, Mah Jongg: The Art of the Game fills the void between the past's and today's game, providing vision, inspiration and resources. Anyone who has ever been intrigued by a Mahjong tile will find in these pages visually stunning photographs that will entice them into becoming an enthusiast of the timeless game of Mahjong.