City on Fire

A long-term resident and expert observer of dissent in Hong Kong takes readers to the frontlines of Hong Kong's revolution.

Through the long, hot summer of 2019, Hong Kong burned. Anti-government protests, sparked by a government proposal to introduce a controversial extradition law, grew into a pro-democracy movement that engulfed the city for months. Protesters fought street battles with police, and the unrest brought the People's Liberation Army to the doorstep of Hong Kong. Driven primarily by youth protesters with their 'Be water!' philosophy, borrowed from hometown hero Bruce Lee, this leaderless, technology-driven protest movement defied a global superpower and changed Hong Kong, perhaps forever.

In City on Fire, Antony Dapiran provides the first detailed analysis of the protests, and reveals the protesters' unique tactics. He explains how the movement fits into the city's long history of dissent, examines the cultural aspects of the movement, and looks at what the protests will mean for the future of Hong Kong, China, and China's place in the world.

City on Fire will be seen as the definitive account of an historic upheaval.



'The events that have rocked Hong Kong over 2019 have bewildered and surprised people inside and outside the city. This is a timely, well informed attempt to make sense of everything that has happened - critically important in view of the confusion, and contention, that this event has caused.'
-Professor Kerry Brown, Director, Lau China Institute, King's College London

'City on Fire by Antony Dapiran, a lawyer and writer, offers a firsthand analysis and description of one of the 21st century's most significant struggles. China's authoritarian interference in Hong Kong was met by a unique and unprecedented popular uprising. This book provides a clear narrative and frontline perspective of a complex issue. It is the most comprehensive book about the Hong Kong protests from a professional observer.'
-Ai Weiwei

'Excellent reportage that is of critical importance in understanding contemporary Chinese politics.' STARRED REVIEW
-Kirkus Reviews