SHANGHAI AT ITS MOST DECADENT is the setting for a family saga, interwoven with history, geography and politics, creating a vivid picture of life as it was in an era of adventure and Empire. This is a true story of the Colterjohn family spanning a hundred years and three continents. Although it starts and ends in Scotland, the main focus is in Shanghai, China between 1926 and 1949. At the height of its infamy, Shanghai became the most corrupt, decadent, squalid, and fun-loving city that modern civilization has ever witnessed. In a cycle of boom and bust, fortunes were made and lost. Everyone, foreigners and Chinese alike, was there to enjoy the good life and make money, lots of it, and as fast as possible. Sam and Eric, two young Scottish engineers, saw it at its best and worst. They earned big salaries and led privileged lives with beautiful homes; servants looked after their children while they danced the nights away in exclusive clubs. As the Japanese aggression accelerated, Sam and his family relocated to India, and Eric sent his wife and children to the safety of British Columbia. Thinking he would be safe, Eric remained in his job with the Shanghai Power Company but was sent to a Japanese prison camp, where he barely survived.