Dense with detail and often compelling. The author wrote this book as a corrective to an earlier biography of the title character, which turns out to be based on myths and/or misremembrances. But Levy's insistence on providing more historical background sometimes means the narrative gets bogged down by all the information; even though I liked the review of Chinese history, the book gets more in-depth into that than necessary, particularly with the atrocities committed by the Nationalists, the Japanese and the Communists. But it was still interesting to read the story of a Jewish guy who managed to get some renown among Sun Yat-Sen's coterie and then played off those connections for all they were worth (and then some). ( )

An excellent biography of an obscure, little-known man who sat in the wings of early 20th century Chinese history. Levy's story tells of Cohen's upbringing in England, his boisterous adolescence and even wilder times in rural Canada. How such an individual came to live at the coattails of Sun Yat Sen and Chiang Kai Shek is the amazing tale. The pace of the book at times does drag, but all in all a good, solid romp which could easily translate into a great movie. ( )