Paul French is a prolific author of books on pre-revolutionary 20th Century China and the stories of foreigners who lived and worked there, including the bestselling true-crime history, Midnight in Peking. His work is based on traditional historical research, his own experiences living in Shanghai for around two decades, and correspondence and conversations with people who lived in China, and their family members. His latest book is about the yearlong sojourn of American socialite Wallace Simpson in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Beijing. Simpson went on to wed King Edward VIII of England, who abdicated the throne to marry her because she was divorced, making her Duchess of Windsor. Simpson’s time in China, and especially her activities in Shanghai, remain an object of fascination and gossip for the British popular press.
In this interview, ChinaFile editorial fellow Jeremy Goldkorn speaks to French about his new book, why Simpson’s story still captures the public imagination, and life in China then and now.