Fayvel S., born to a Jewish family in Poland, grows up to become an unscrupulous and ruthless drugs boss and gunrunner. By 1939, he has made his fortune, and he has set up in China. His empire stretches from Shanghai to Europe and his reputation is legendary. But as the war in Europe escalates, Fayvel becomes increasingly worried about the safety of his people. In 1941, he can no longer ignore the news of the treatment of the Jews in Poland and the construction of the Warsaw ghetto, and he knows he must return to rescue his family Accompanied by his two bodyguards, a gay, ex-boxer and a beautiful, but deadly Chinese woman, Fayvel throws himself and his companions into the jaws of the tiger, and embarks on a fearless rescue mission. Their bid for freedom lands them in increasingly perilous situations as they make a hair-raising flight across Europe. A nail-biting adventure with all the ingredients: an anti-hero, a beautiful heroine, love, death, and war—romance, rivalry and chutzpah at the highest level. Fans of Tarantino and of Sergio Leone’s iconic film Once Upon a Time in America, will love this novel.

Fayvel S., born to a Jewish family in Poland, grows up to become an unscrupulous and ruthless drugs boss and gunrunner. By 1939, he has made his fortune, and he has set up in China. His empire stretches from Shanghai to Europe and his reputation is legendary. But as the war in Europe escalates, Fayvel becomes increasingly worried about the safety of his people. In 1941, he can no longer ignore the news of the treatment of the Jews in Poland and the construction of the Warsaw ghetto, and he knows he must return to rescue his family Accompanied by his two bodyguards, a gay, ex-boxer and a beautiful, but deadly Chinese woman, Fayvel throws himself and his companions into the jaws of the tiger, and embarks on a fearless rescue mission. Their bid for freedom lands them in increasingly perilous situations as they make a hair-raising flight across Europe. A nail-biting adventure with all the ingredients: an anti-hero, a beautiful heroine, love, death, and war—romance, rivalry and chutzpah at the highest level. Fans of Tarantino and of Sergio Leone’s iconic film Once Upon a Time in America, will love this novel.

Philippe Smolarski is a historian, archaeologist, and expert in Asian art. He has lived in China, Russia and in parts of Central Asia, and is doctor honoris causa of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences. When he was director of the Institut Européen d'Études Chinoises in Brussels, he organized several major exhibitions including the Treasures of the Tianjin Museum at the Cinquantenaire Museum in Brussels. He was born in Strasbourg and lives in Brussels.