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Product Description
Review
Praise for River of Smoke
(--- )'Ghosh's novel is a tense, compelling account... The accumulation of minutiae puts the reader so firmly in the time and place that the whole thing becomes as hypnotic as an opium dream and pretty unputdownable'
(Daily Mail )'For those who like to see history bought alive through the deployment of wave upon wave of plausible detail, River of Smoke should prove a marvellous read'
(Literary Review )'Any good historical novel should teach the reader some history as well as sweeping him or her along with an unfolding narrative. Few do this as well as Amitav Ghosh...who puts his considerable learning at the service of his powers as a great storyteller. A book whose conclusion again left me panting for the next volume in this trilogy'
(Financial Times )'The novel's strength lies in how thoroughly Ghosh fills out his research with his novelistic fantasy, seduced by each new situation that presents itself and each new character, so that the scenes read with a sensual freshness as if they were happening now'
(Guardian )'Best of all, Ghosh, through the depth of his research, lightly worn, has captured the many cross-currents of a fascinating historical period' (Seven )
Praise for Sea of Poppies
(--- )'Sea of Poppies boasts a varied collection of characters to love and hate, and provides wonderfully detailed descriptions of opium production ... utterly involving and piles on tension until the very last page'
(Peter Parker, Sunday Times )'Ripping post-colonial yarn ... Ghosh spins a fine story with a quite irresistible flow, breathing exuberant life ... an absorbing vision'
(Guardian )'Ghosh's narrative is enriched with a wealth of historical detail ... as well as intricate characterisation that makes interaction among the diverse group truly absorbing'
(The Times )'There can be fewer more exciting settings for a novel than a sea-tossed sailing ship ... Ghosh piles detail upon detail in a rumbustical adventure'
(The Times )'The fantastic Anglo-Asian language they speak is infectious, and the sombre yet uncertain conclusion leaves one eager for the second novel in the trilogy'
(Daily Telegraph )'An utterly involving book' (Sunday Times )
'This is a panoramic adventure story, with a Dickensian energy and scope'
(Sunday Telegraph )Product Description
In September 1838 a storm blows up on the Indian Ocean and the Ibis, a ship carrying a consignment of convicts and indentured laborers from Calcutta to Mauritius, is caught up in the whirlwind. When the seas settle, five men have disappeared - two lascars, two convicts and one of the passengers. Did the same storm upend the fortunes of those aboard the Anahita, an opium carrier heading towards Canton? And what fate befell those aboard the Redruth, a sturdy two-masted brig heading East out of Cornwall? Was it the storm that altered their course or were the destinies of these passengers at the mercy of even more powerful forces?
On the grand scale of an historical epic, River of Smoke follows its storm-tossed characters to the crowded harbors of China. There, despite efforts of the emperor to stop them, ships from Europe and India exchange their cargoes of opium for boxes of tea, silk, porcelain and silver. Among them are Bahram Modi, a wealthy Parsi opium merchant out of Bombay, his estranged half-Chinese son Ah Fatt, the orphaned Paulette and a motley collection of others whose pursuit of romance, riches and a legendary rare flower have thrown together. All struggle to cope with their losses - and for some, unimaginable freedoms - in the alleys and crowded waterways of 19th century Canton. As transporting and mesmerizing as an opiate induced dream, River of Smoke will soon be heralded as a masterpiece of twenty-first century literature.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
53 of 53 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
I confess I was swithering whether to award 4 or 5 stars for this book, but had to come down in favour of 5. I loved Sea of Poppies and this book is even more densely told, packed with detail, and both the devil and the angel here are in the detail. The story is sprawling, and covers in detail the year or so following the events of Sea of Poppies (and I'm very glad I still had my copy of Sea of Poppies to refer to, especially at the beginning).
Not all the characters in the first book are followed in detail, some of the most important are hardly mentioned, though the first part involves Deeti and her family on the island of Mauritius. Instead we concentrate mainly on Neel, Paulette and her childhood playmate Edward (Robin) Chinnery, whose character comes alive in his letters to Paulette; the opium smuggling in Canton, the search for exotic plants, especially the golden camellia, largely in the nearly empty wastes of the island of Hong Kong and the fortunes of the Fami on the lush island of Mauritius.
Packed with detail, as I have said. I knew very little of the Opium trade and the fat cat British, American and assorted merchants of the Fanqui-town district of Canton who put profit before all else (so what else is new?), and I found it all fascinating, together with the intertwined story of the plants. The book exposes the hypocrisy of the times mercilessly, and does noone any favours.
The language is a rich mix of pidgin and the current venacular, and I found it easy and rewarding to follow. I had a slight quibble with names: as in Russian literature all the Asian characters answer to several names each and it isn't always easy to work out who is who, but that is a minor point and all becomes clear eventually.
One abiding image remains with me: in the womanless enclave of Fanqui-town balls are held and the spectacle of, among other male couples, Mr Jardine sedately dancing the waltz with Mr Wetmore is not easily banished from the mind.
All you could ask for is in this book. Great atmosphere and sense of place, splendid narrative, strong characters (especially Indian merchant Bahram Modi) both fictional and historical, violence, cupidity, stupidity, love of all kinds and the promise of more to come, I hope before too many more years have elapsed.
Not all the characters in the first book are followed in detail, some of the most important are hardly mentioned, though the first part involves Deeti and her family on the island of Mauritius. Instead we concentrate mainly on Neel, Paulette and her childhood playmate Edward (Robin) Chinnery, whose character comes alive in his letters to Paulette; the opium smuggling in Canton, the search for exotic plants, especially the golden camellia, largely in the nearly empty wastes of the island of Hong Kong and the fortunes of the Fami on the lush island of Mauritius.
Packed with detail, as I have said. I knew very little of the Opium trade and the fat cat British, American and assorted merchants of the Fanqui-town district of Canton who put profit before all else (so what else is new?), and I found it all fascinating, together with the intertwined story of the plants. The book exposes the hypocrisy of the times mercilessly, and does noone any favours.
The language is a rich mix of pidgin and the current venacular, and I found it easy and rewarding to follow. I had a slight quibble with names: as in Russian literature all the Asian characters answer to several names each and it isn't always easy to work out who is who, but that is a minor point and all becomes clear eventually.
One abiding image remains with me: in the womanless enclave of Fanqui-town balls are held and the spectacle of, among other male couples, Mr Jardine sedately dancing the waltz with Mr Wetmore is not easily banished from the mind.
All you could ask for is in this book. Great atmosphere and sense of place, splendid narrative, strong characters (especially Indian merchant Bahram Modi) both fictional and historical, violence, cupidity, stupidity, love of all kinds and the promise of more to come, I hope before too many more years have elapsed.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
I heard Amitar Ghosh talking about River of Smoke, this second-part to the Ibis trilogy, on the BBC World Service. He was so interesting that when the opportunity arose for me to read this book I grabbed the chance. I came at it backwards, though, since I now have to read part one, Sea of Poppies. Even without having read the first part, the story is amazing and the historical facts so true it makes one despair of First-World governments ever dealing fairly and honestly and justly with those outside this realm.
Ghosh is an amazing writer and even though you will need a dictionary beside you to get the exact meaning of some of the words so much can be learned just through the reading. The characters come alive on the pages and the latter section that deals with the confrontation between the British opium sellers and the Chinese authorities is thrilling in the true sense of the word; a real page-turner.
I have read some complaints about the subplot being not quite up to par and in some sense I would have to agree. But in the back of my mind I wonder if this won't be dealt with in part three of the trilogy so I don't want to knock it too much. In fact, as the sub-plot deals with plants and finding new plants, the care of plants at sea on a ship and the search for the elusive yellow camelia, it is very interesting in its own right. The action part of the book, however, is definitely the opium sellers and the confrontation that leads to war (probably to be covered in part three).
Every descriptive detail is so precise that one can almost smell the different spices and foods, and the not-so-nice smells also. Clothing is also wonderfully described.
It is just such an enjoyable read that I am racing to read the first part, Sea of Poppies and can't wait for part three to be published.
I highly recommend this series, especially if you enjoy historical fiction set in foreign parts that is precise in accuracy and delightful in expression.
Ghosh is an amazing writer and even though you will need a dictionary beside you to get the exact meaning of some of the words so much can be learned just through the reading. The characters come alive on the pages and the latter section that deals with the confrontation between the British opium sellers and the Chinese authorities is thrilling in the true sense of the word; a real page-turner.
I have read some complaints about the subplot being not quite up to par and in some sense I would have to agree. But in the back of my mind I wonder if this won't be dealt with in part three of the trilogy so I don't want to knock it too much. In fact, as the sub-plot deals with plants and finding new plants, the care of plants at sea on a ship and the search for the elusive yellow camelia, it is very interesting in its own right. The action part of the book, however, is definitely the opium sellers and the confrontation that leads to war (probably to be covered in part three).
Every descriptive detail is so precise that one can almost smell the different spices and foods, and the not-so-nice smells also. Clothing is also wonderfully described.
It is just such an enjoyable read that I am racing to read the first part, Sea of Poppies and can't wait for part three to be published.
I highly recommend this series, especially if you enjoy historical fiction set in foreign parts that is precise in accuracy and delightful in expression.
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
Part two of the Ibis trilogy following Sea of Poppies is densely plotted and, although it is not strictly necessary, I would advise reading "Poppies" first. Ghosh sets his tale in the events leading up to the first Opium war of 1839. His characters are expertly drawn and his depiction of the effect of colonialism in the East is brilliantly captured showing the arrogance and bigotry that prevailed in rich colours.
The story itself has a real underlying drive and is immensely satisfying but where Ghosh really scores is in his magical use of language. Words flow pell mell in a mixture of pidgin, hindustani, gujarati and others and, while you don't need to know the exact meaning of everyword, they appear on the page rich in imagery. Budmashing and Cumshaw being two examples.
This was a hugely enjoyable read and I hope the long hiatus between the appearance of parts one and two is not repeated as we eagerly await the final instalment. very highly recommended.
The story itself has a real underlying drive and is immensely satisfying but where Ghosh really scores is in his magical use of language. Words flow pell mell in a mixture of pidgin, hindustani, gujarati and others and, while you don't need to know the exact meaning of everyword, they appear on the page rich in imagery. Budmashing and Cumshaw being two examples.
This was a hugely enjoyable read and I hope the long hiatus between the appearance of parts one and two is not repeated as we eagerly await the final instalment. very highly recommended.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A very deep river indeed
I bought River of Smoke after I'd read Sea of Poppies, which I loved. I was not diappointed. If anything, River of Smoke consumed me even more. Read more
Published 12 days ago by I. Black
Sorry, Mr Ghosh, it's not for me
Unfortunately this is more of an apology than a review.
I was originally intrigued by the brief write-up in the Amazon Vine newsletter and by the summary on the product... Read more
I was originally intrigued by the brief write-up in the Amazon Vine newsletter and by the summary on the product... Read more
Published 1 month ago by T. D. Dawson
River of Smoke
An excellent read - builds on the detail and atmosphere of Sea of Poppies, taking the reader on a journey through a unique world, rich in characters and interwoven storytelling. Read more
Published 1 month ago by teacher
Thoroughly absorbing sequel
I was completely absorbed by this sequel to Sea of Poppies, though sad not to see more of the characters from the previous novel, such as Deeti. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Parvati P.
Even better sequel
This book is a great sequel to Sea of Poppies. A number of characters return to play minor parts, but the book can be easily read without having read SoP first. Read more
Published 6 months ago by F. A. Odijk
brilliant book
story has you gripped and you want to read more excellent worth reading more of this authors works. Type in authors name as when you put book title in takes you to other historical... Read more
Published 7 months ago by jennie 1768
Rich and intricate multi layered book.
This book describes a rich intricate and multi layered world. It is fascinating full of information and revelations, though it never feels over researched. Read more
Published 7 months ago by rollerskate
An addictive read
I do think this is a wonderful book, but I am giving it four stars rather than five. I could give half stars, this would be a 4.5 for me. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Gabrielle O
Like its predecessor Sea of Poppies, an intoxicating read
A brilliantly vivid and detailed depiction of the opium trade in Canton in the 19th century. Lacks a little of the pace of its predecessor Sea of Poppies, but still an engrossing... Read more
Published 8 months ago by R Bain
River of Smoke
I read the first in this trilogy and loved it. This one I enjoyed but felt it was definitely too long. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Lesley O'C
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