Themes and variations from the lives of the British in South-East Asia, in the days of the Empire: in the words of some of those who were there. 1: Shanghai
'There were no less than 400 nightclubs in Shanghai ... It was a place where you could see anything, do anything, get anything ... I never felt it was a wicked city, it was an exciting city ... There was something about the air of Shanghai. You didn't need much sleep.'
Special music by JONATHAN GIBBS
BBC RADIOPHONIC WORKSHOP Compiled by CHARLES ALLEN Producer MICHAEL MASON