If you wish to study the colonial history of the East through a seafaring tale and the problems of poppy’s product- the opium, go for the river of smoke. In this sequel to the Sea of Popies, Amitav Gosh dives deep in presenting the picture of Opium War of 1830s. Gosh shifts his focus on canton in this book.
Book opens in Mauritius and moves on to chase its storm tossed characters. The ship is caught in the whirlwind and when the seas settle five men- two lascars, two convicts and one passenger have gone missing. As the narration progress you’ll find out whether it was the storm that changed the routes of the ships or were the destiny of passengers meant to coincide. It presents an interesting picture of the network of alleys and harbor through characters from all walks of life; it has tycoons, government officials, journalists, fugitives, smugglers, and a motley collection of others.
The River of Smoke reads like a scholarly paper and provides rich details on opium war and Cantonese society. Highly recommended!
Book opens in Mauritius and moves on to chase its storm tossed characters. The ship is caught in the whirlwind and when the seas settle five men- two lascars, two convicts and one passenger have gone missing. As the narration progress you’ll find out whether it was the storm that changed the routes of the ships or were the destiny of passengers meant to coincide. It presents an interesting picture of the network of alleys and harbor through characters from all walks of life; it has tycoons, government officials, journalists, fugitives, smugglers, and a motley collection of others.
The River of Smoke reads like a scholarly paper and provides rich details on opium war and Cantonese society. Highly recommended!
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