With remarkable historic vision and a vibrant cast of characters, ghosh brings the opium wars to bear on the contemporary moment with the storytelling that has charmed readers around the. The story starts in 1838 on the eve of the first opium wars. Ghoshs trilogy is unswerving in its commitment to probing and exposing the excitement, greed, despair, violence, and ambitions that informed the opium trade, revealing to us how it fed into the. Opium wars, two armed conflicts in china in the mid19th century between the forces of western countries and of the qing dynasty, which ruled china from 1644 to 191112. The first book in the trilogy, sea of poppies, set the scene with an indepth look at the harvesting and manufacture of opium in india. A well researched book describing the series of opium wars that were the start of chinas humiliations by the western powers in the 19th century and a stillfestering source of.
River of smoke details the life at sea and in the foreign enclave in canton of the immensely rich men who dominated the trade, principally britons. Other than reading this book i mainly watch squirrels outside my window, so you can imagine what a thrill i got from the pivotal love stories and nail biting twists of this book. It is 1839 and china has embargoed the trade of opium, yet too much is at stake in the lucrative business and the british foreign secretary has ordered the colonial government in india to assemble an expeditionary force for an attack to reinstate the trade. This is book 3 of a trilogy, and all 3 books are a fantastic read. The first novel in the series, sea of poppies, took readers to the ganges and calcutta, where the seductive opium commodity was cultivated and. River of smoke, the midway point in amitav ghoshs ibis trilogy his chronicle of the opium wars, the 19thcentury contest between the english empire and.
In the final book of the trilogy, ghosh writes about individuals fully caught up in the first opium war 183942 as yet another ship, the hind, sails from india to china, again with a motley cast, some seeking answers to questions created by the events of. The stunningly vibrant final novel in the bestselling ibis trilogy. Opium wars simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Although the opium wars are mentioned only in passing, it is their coming that sets the book in motion. A prolific author, anthropologist, and past recipient of an ala notable book award, ghosh the hungry tide offers history buffs a devastating and wellresearched look at the business of opium manufacturing, along with the politics that led to the opium wars between china and great britain. He studied at the universities of delhi and oxford and has written six novels. The first opium war 183942 was fought between china and britain, and the second opium war 185660, also known as the arrow war or the anglofrench war in china, was fought by britain and france against china. See more ideas about east india company, colonial india and old shanghai. Britain was persuaded to wage this despicable war against china by muddled headed military leaders encouraged by immoral merchants who made fortunes from opium.
Amitav ghoshs trilogy sea of poppies 2008, river of smoke 2011, and flood of fire 2015 offers some clues and opens the doors to the rich. The tales of these escapees created a legacy of cross cultural language, food, and art all mirroring the history of the opium wars. It comprises sea of poppies 2008, river of smoke 2011, and flood of fire 2015 the trilogy gets its names from the ship ibis, on board. Set in 1830s india at the dawn of the opium wars, this epic is threaded with the lives of ordinary people moving towards extraordinary fates. It is the nineteenthcentury war on drugs but instead of the colombia or mexican cartels selling drugs it is the british selling drugs to china.
It deals with the trade of opium between india and china run by the east india. Flood of fire requires no knowledge of the previous books, which ghosh deftly recalls as necessary in an actionpacked narrative following four. Shekhar kapur to direct drama on amitav ghoshs the ibis trilogy. In the final book of the trilogy, ghosh writes about individuals fully caught up in the first opium war 183942 as yet another ship, the hind, sails. Deeti is the initial character introduced to the story and she is the widow of an opiumaddicted husband and avoids the immolation pyre a tradition she should have undergone to follow a vision of a journey on an oceangoing ship. River of smoke, the second book in the series, took us to the opiums. Julia lovells new history of the opium war is a welcome piece of mythbusting. The second opium war was fought from october 23, 1856, to october 18, 1860, and was also known as the arrow war or the second anglochinese war, although france joined in. Its destiny is a tumultuous voyage across the indian ocean. Shekhar kapur to direct drama on amitav ghoshs the ibis. In amitav ghoshs sea of poppies, the ibis began its treacherous journey across the indian ocean, bound for the cane fields of mauritius with a cargo of indentured servants.
Lord of opium download pdfepub ebook gets free book. Kong and canton and get caught up in events that lead to the first opium war. The ibis trilogy is a work of historical fiction by amitav ghosh. Leading indian writer amitav ghoshs critically acclaimed new novel sea of poppies is set during a time when opium trade out of india was flourishing during british rule. The team is in the process of lining up a lead writer. The opium wars were two wars which were waged between the great qing and the british government in the mid19th century, triggered by the british governments imposition of the opium trade upon china. A brilliant indian novel about the first opium war mal. Shekhar kapur to direct drama on amitav ghoshs the ibis trilogy the show interweaves the lives of vividly drawn characters against the backdrop of the opium wars involving the countries india, china and america.
A christian science monitor best fiction book of the year a guardian best book of the year a san francisco chronicle best book of the year. List of books and articles about opium online research. In the final book of the trilogy, ghosh writes about individuals fully caught up in the first opium war 183942 as yet another ship, the hind, sails from india to china, again with a motley cast, some seeking answers to questions created by the events of earlier books, others keen for money and adventure. Now, in river of smoke, the former slave ship flounders in the bay of bengal, caught in the midst of a. They give a non british perspective on the havoc wreaked by the east india company and british imperialism in china and india. I cant say whether weve forgotten about our opium war out of laziness or out of guilt, but i do think that there is a tendency in britain to think of ourselves as postimperial, and avoid reflecting. The ibis trilogy now complete with the release of flood of fire represents ghoshs longest and most ambitious work by far, depicting a world in motion on the eve of the opium wars. The resulting concession of hong kong compromised chinas territorial sovereignty. I am on the third book of a trilogy about the mid19th century opium wars involving anglochinese disputes over british trade in china and chinas sovereignty. As it took hold as a recreational drug, opium wrought havoc on chinese society. The first was between great britain and china and lasted from 1839 until 1842.
James buchan climbs aboard the first part of a trilogy set at the time of the opium wars james buchan fri 6 jun 2008 19. Free trade and the opium wars through the lens of amitav. With all the verve of the first two novels in the trilogy, flood of fire completes ghoshs unprecedented reenvisioning of the nineteenthcentury war on drugs. The book is set in 1838 during the runup to the first opium war. Talking wars and words with amitav ghosh by iva dixit on 11016 at 11. Big book, does what it says on the tin, all about opium wars and worth reading. As for the crew, they are a motley array of sailors and stowaways, coolies and convicts. Buy a cheap copy of sea of poppies book by amitav ghosh. At the heart of this vibrant saga is a vast ship, the ibis. It is 1839 and china has embargoed the trade of opium, yet too much is at stake in the lucrative business and the british foreign secretary has ordered the colonial government in india to. When rin aced the kejuthe empirewide test to find the most talented youth to learn at the academiesit was a shock to everyone.
A brilliant indian novel about the first opium war mal warwick on. The second was from 1856 to 1860 and involved france as well the wars were about many other things than opium. Xie jin described the film as a special gift for the motherland and the people. Against the backdrop of the opium wars, an unlikely dynasty is born, which will span continents, races, and generations.
Two opium wars, also known as the anglochinese wars, were fought between the british empire and china from 1839 to 1842, and from 1856 to 1860. Discovering global history through historical fiction. The story is set in the first half of the 19th century. It deals with the trade of opium between india and china run by the east india company and the trafficking of coolies to mauritius. And back in 1997, at the time of the handover of hong kong, there was no mention in the dignitaries speeches of opium wars fought over it. Her destiny is a tumultuous voyage across the indian ocean shortly before the outbreak of the. Leslie marchant sees the opium wars as a philosophical clash between two cultures and two notions of government and society by marchant, leslie history today, vol. They were also about opening china to european and american trade and colonizations. Mismanagement in the aftermath of the british east india companys loss of its monopoly in 1834 abstract the histories of the opium war, of which there are many, have posited that the roots of the conflict are diverse and interconnected, ranging from cultural differences to conflicting perspectives on trade. A san francisco chronicle best book of 2008a chicago tribune best book of 2008a washington post best book of 2008an economist best book of 2008a new york best book. Unfortunately, this first entry in a proposed trilogy. The opium war yapian zhanzheng, directed by 74yearold chinese director xie jin, was released in beijing on july 1, 1997, set to coincide with the transfer of hong kong from britain back to china.
The first book in ghoshs ibis trilogy, sea of poppies is a dazzling web of rich language and history. Opium entered china during the middle ages when arab traders brought it into china for medicinal purposes. Drugs, dreams and the making of china paperback 10 may. The first in an epic trilogy, sea of poppies is a remarkably rich saga. The opium war or wars were complex and tragic events for britain china, and india. In river of smoke the middle book of the trilogy, the ibis battles through a tremendous storm. Approximately 2,900 western troops were killed or wounded.
The clashes included the first opium war 18391842, with the british naval forces, and the second opium war. In flood of fire, the trilogy s sprawling, stirring final volume, chinas determination to end the trade leads to the outbreak of the first opium war. Set during the opium trade of the early nineteenth century, amitav ghoshs ibis trilogy is a voyage through epic power struggles between east and westa complex history that continues to resonate throughout the world. The opium war by julia lovell in the opium war, china won at most one battleand even that was largely due to the weather. Amitav ghosh concludes his opium war trilogy in brilliant. Amitav ghosh sails into the opium war with trilogy. Flood of fire is set during the opium wars, concluding the trilogy.
In flood of fire, the trilogys sprawling, stirring final volume, chinas determination to end the trade leads to the outbreak of the first opium war. The opium wars were two wars between china and western countries during the qing dynasty. Bbc news south asia opium financed british rule in india. In this tragic and powerful story, the two opium wars of 1839 1842 and 1856 1860 between britain and china are recounted for the first time through the eyes of the chinese as well as the imperial west. There are four main reasons why amitov ghoshs sea of poppies is an excellent book. This is the first epic instalment of the ibis trilogy. The novel spans three continents and close to two centuries and is the first in a planned historical trilogy set in the 19th century. Amitav ghosh sails into the opium war with trilogy finale.