Earnshaw Books: Book launches, a Beijing Shanghai debate, and poetry

Earnshaw Books will host an evening of performance to celebrate this month's release of two new titles - The Peace Correspondent by Garry Marchant and China Rhymes by Shamus A'Rabbitt, featuring a new foreword by Andrew Chubb.

In The Peace Correspondent, Garry Marchant, a well-seasoned traveler with a taste for the exotic, writes of more than thirty years of jaunts around Asia. Armed with a journalist’s insatiable curiosity and a fluid pen, he brings a fresh and often hilarious perspective on lesser-known points East.

China Rhymes is a collection of two classics of poetry as written by the master of the Old China Coast, Shamus A'Rabbitt. Mr. A'Rabbitt caused a sensation in the 1930s with his “Ballads” books, which mocked the world of foreigners in the Orient. His poetic portrayals were sharp, accurate and hilarious. With bouncy, limerickesque rhythms, razor-sharp satirical wit and a healthy distaste for hypocrisy and pretension, giving the reader a perfect whirlwind tour of the world of Old China.

In honor of Mr. A'Rabbitt's superb Old China poetry, a poetry contest will be held. Take your favorite piece of poetry up on the stage and read it out loud. First and second place winners will receive their choice of five great titles from Earnshaw Books. Original poetry and renditions of Mr. A'Rabbitt's work (made available at the door) are both welcome. All are invited to participate and preregistration is not required.

Later, Graham "Shanghai" Earnshaw and Derek "Peking" Sandhaus will hold the second round in their no-holds-barred, in-your-face debate to determine the greatest city in Old China. Their first round, held in Beijing, was inexplicably won by Sandhaus. We'll see how this one goes.

Complimentary drinks for the first 100 guests, and copies of both new titles available for a special 100RMB promotional price (normally 140RMB). 20% off food and drinks all evening.

When:Wednesday, July 29 7:30 pm
Where: House of Blues and Jazz, No. 60, Fuzhou Lu (Near Sichuan Lu) 福州路60号(近四川路)