National Network for Equitable Library Service

A time of turmoil, when destinies were forged… In this searing historical novel by Toronto author S.P. Hozy, set amid the turmoil of early twentieth century Shanghai, three women, one Russian, one Chinese, and one French, determine the tragic fate of a young piano prodigy. Which of them is really responsible? A Cold Season In Shanghai is set against the backdrop of revolution in China, when decadent Shanghai was like no other place on earth. The narrator is Tatiana, a Russian woman brought up in a wealthy family. Looking back on her actions thirty years later from her new life in Toronto, she recalls the complex relationships between the three women and the effect they had on each others lives. She suspects she may have been the catalyst for a series of devastating events which caused havoc in the lives of her friends. Tormented by the aftermath of her decision, she chooses to live a life of careless abandon, turning her back on her family and, ultimately, her friends.