Empress of Asia – Dan Black

Poem For A Father’s Journey to Gold Mountain

Dr. Raymond Chong recently visited Vancouver, where–with “tremendous melancholy”–he stood on the bustling waterfront trying to picture his father’s arrival on the Empress of Asia in April 1932. His father, Gim Suey Chong, was just a boy when he set foot in Canada. His long and risky voyage across the Pacific and into Canada and … Continue reading

Postcard from 1932

Dated December 6, 1932, this postcard showing the Empress of Asia was addressed to a Mr. A.Y. Brown of Acton, Ontario. The initials of the sender appear to be A.S. Friend and researcher Glenn Wright was attending a postcard show in Merrickville, Ontario, when he made the find while “browsing ships.” The postcard didn’t make … Continue reading

Book Reviews and a Nice New Promotional Cover Graphic from Dundurn Press

Early Reviews for Oceans of Fate “The challenge when writing about a ship is not just to find personal stories but to weave them into a compelling narrative that keeps the reader turning the pages…. Black has done a meticulous job of unearthing diaries, journals, and personal letters and photographs of both crews and passengers, … Continue reading

Oceans of Fate: Peace and Peril Aboard the Steamship Empress of Asia

Oceans of Fate: Peace and Peril Aboard the Steamship Empress of Asia is the next book, published by Toronto-based Dundurn Press, one of Canada’s top book publishers. The release date is February 18, 2025. A quick check of the title online shows it is listed with booksellers around the world–thanks to Dundurn’s marketing team. Oceans … Continue reading