At Bay Press

Your cart is empty

  • Books
    • All Books
    • Book Supplements
    • Catalogue
  • Creators
  • Submissions
  • Ordering
  • Updates
  • Podcast
  • Videos
  • About
  • Contact

City Rising

From the Holy Mountain

by David Rotenberg

Historical Fiction     Hardcover

The first book in ‘The Shanghai Tetralogy’ City Rising:

On the Hua Shan (the Holy Mountain) 250 years before Christ, the most powerful man in the world, the First Emperor bequeaths a talisman to his three trusted followers: the BodyGuard, his favourite Courtesan, and his Head Confucian - a narwhal tusk with carvings depicting the growth for the next 2500 years of a city at the Bend in the River - Shanghai. The warning from the First Emperor before he commits suicide is to watch for the White Ships on Water - and so the progeny of the three who are entrusted with the Tusk do - and then - in 1841 - they arrive. British Men of War ships - and Opium.

City Rising tells the story of two destitute Baghdadi jews who become opium lords - and the battles against the powerful British Opium companies - and the boys’ eventual love of the City at the Bend in the River - Shanghai.

Awards & Reviews

“An epic [series] spanning thousands of years with larger-than-life characters and page-turning qualities.”

– MacLeans

“Rotenberg’s take on the street life, bureaucracy, and sheer mass of Shanghai cleverly captures a wonderful, baffling city. “

– Toronto Star

“A massive, fascinating, and powerful [series] that spans genres, maybe confounds them. [Rotenberg] possesses a prodigious memory for atmosphere and place.”

– Jurgen Gothe
  • Published: November 9th, 2023

Related Books

  • The Glint of Light

    Clarence Major

    A novel about the cumulative unease and random violence that has gripped American life.

    More…

  • The Loyal Daughter

    Nancy Lam

    Intergenerational family secrets

    More…

  • The Unpleasantness at the Battle of Thornford

    C.C. Benison

    Another brilliant entry in the Father Christmas annals.

    More…

  • BookNet Canada
  • Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild
  • Association of Canadian Publishers
  • Association of Manitoba
Book Publisher
  • Fine Press Book Association

At Bay Press acknowledges we are located on original lands of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and on the homeland of the Métis Nation.

All contents copyright ©2023 At Bay Press
Top of page