Book review: The origins of international banking in Asia:the nineteenth and twentieth centuries

This volume examines the origins, growth, and business practices of European banks in Asia, and the development of Asian (notably Japanese and Hong Kong) banks, and their operations on an international stage. Drawing on archival documentation of the main British, French, and Japanese banks involved, it aims to provide analysis from a range of historical viewpoints, including global banking strategy, monetary regimes, financial markets, international trade, labour immigration, and the development of communication tools. Recommended to those with a firm understanding of finance, writes Merlin Linehan, the authors successfully maintain a narrative to stimulate the reader throughout.