Tai-Pan: The Epic Novel of the Founding of Hong Kong: The Asian Saga, Book 2

Dirk Struan is the Tai-Pan of the Noble House.This is his story. But it is also the story of the founding of Hong Kong. At the center of this tale of East meets West in the island city of Hong Kong and of the Chinese Empire of the 1840s is the story of the mercantile competition between The Noble House of Dirk Struan and his bitterest rival, Tyler Brock. But it's not just about the founding of Hong Kong or the profit in the trade of opium in China. No, it's also about a point of contact between the United Kingdom and China. One empire was waning in influence, though it didn't yet realize it when the story begins - despite its recent loss in the Opium War. Another empire is waxing in influence and fully aware that the future is hers if she can grab it. And men like Struan will serve the empire and in the process reopen China to the world. But first Struan will need to overcome the greatest test his own commercial empire has ever faced or the Noble House will be no more. And with no Noble House,Struan will no longer be the Tai-Pan.Beneath the story of the traders, merchants, missionaries and soldiers of the two empires is the story of how the Chinese people are changed by their contact with British traders and how the British are in turn changed by their contact with the Chinese people. Each sees itself as performing a civilizing mission that is vital to the future of the world. Each sees itself as supremely powerful. And each will have to face the rising power of the Russian Empire bent on achieving global hegemony. And yet the seeds of Hong Kong's survival may yet be undone by those too myopic to see its value. And if Hong Kong is lost then perhaps the futures of both China and the UK will be lost.This is the story of politics. Chartists in the UK seeking political reform. Chinese members of secret society known as the Triad seeking to overthrow the hated Manchu rulers of China. Russians looking to expand their power base through Russian Alaska and in the western parts of North America. This is the story of culture - how two cultures met, saw each other, and were molded by each other at their point of contact in Hong Kong.This is the story of economics - how trading companies opened up new markets and enriched the world and in the process found the means to help save the lives of millions.But above all this is the story of the people of Hong Kong. Dirk Struan fighting to save The Noble House and also fighting his own son Callum, who wants nothing to do with the Noble House. Tyler Brock who seeks nothing but riches and to become Taipan himself and who must stave off the ruthlessness and inhumanity of his own son, Gorth. May May, the TaiPan's mistress - she holds secrets of her own that can help China and might be able to help save Dirk. Mary Sinclair, a woman who finds herself caught in between cultures and who doesn't have a man's luxury of choice but who still seeks freedom from those who would oppress her. Jinqua, a man of very high importance in China who can save people but who has his own ideas about the future of Hong Kong. And Aristotle Quance, an artist with an eye that sees beauty and truth. Perhaps what he sees will be most important of all to the future. And there are so many more people whose words collide in Hong Kong. You will meet them all.This book is amazing. Clavell wrote a story that completely envelops you in the world of the nascent Victorian Empire. It's a new age and Clavell is able to bring you into it. Clavell also writes beautifully. Sentences like "It was a cold morning with a sky cloud-locked, the sea gray" and "He drove into the depths of the Pacific, into infinity" transport you to this world.Now if only I were still able to read this book for the first time again. But you still can.

“Tai-Pan” is the second book in the Asian Saga series by James Clavell. At this point, I’ve only read “Shogun”. The other books are “Gai-Jin”, “King Rat”, “Noble House”, and “Whirlwind” (out-of-print).“Shogun” is one of my favorite historical novel so I had very high expectation of “Tai-Pan”; perhaps too high. The beginning of “Tai-Pan” was a confusing mess for me. I had a hard time remembering the names of the characters and their significance to the story. I even had a harder time reading and understanding the cockney, Scottish, and Chinese pidgin dialogue. After about 1/3 of the way through the book, the characters and the different accented dialogues became more understandable. The last 1/2 of “Tai-Pan” was almost as good as “Shogun”. The ending of "Tai-Pan" was completely different than what I was expecting.There are many similarities between “Shogun” and “Tai-Pan”. There is the same conflict between Catholics and Protestants and Buddhism. The same conflict between Asian and Western European cultures, norms, and behaviors (e.g., personal hygiene like frequent bathing). There is karma (“Shogun”) vs. joss (“Tai-Pan”). There is love between a strong Westerner man and an Asian woman.The beginning of “Tai-Pan” can be a challenging read, but if you don’t give up, you will be rewarded with a very good historical novel on the founding of Hong Kong.

Tai-Pan is a fictional account of the founding of the British Colony “Hong-Kong.” This is a long book. I listened to all the book and read some sections (as this is our January book selection for my book group). While Clavell tells a good story, he seems to excel at foreshadowing, which means that when things happen there is little surprise. An example was when the Chinese lover of the Tai-pan was bitten by a mosquito, I knew she’d be coming down with malaria. Thankfully, Clavell doesn’t make a direct connection as, at the time (1842), it was thought that malaria came from “night vapors.” Clavell also seems to spend too much time in what goes on in the heads of various characters. People act or seem one way, but often have different ideas, which is especially true for the Chinese and their secret societies that even place mistresses so they can know what the British are up to. Clavell seems to embellish certain “kinky” sexual fantasies, from playful spankings of a lover to more harsh beatings and torture (he especially seems drawn to thumbscrews). I also felt he had a love for the sound of “reefed” sails. In his wonderful descriptions of sailing, he almost always has something to say about them being reefed (sails shortened due to excessive wind).However, I did like how he worked in principles of economics, the advantage of free trade, the world views that tied together or put in conflict the interest of a variety of nations (from Britain, to Russia, and the America), and a main character (Dirk Sturan, a Scotsman) who is open and interested in what he and the English can learn from the Chinese. Staran is the “Tai-pan” or the leader of the strongest trading group in China. He has a number of other challengers including his arch-enemy, Tyler Brock. Staran is planning on leaving Asia and turning the operation of this company over to his son, Culum, which happens to be in love with Brock’s daughter.The dream of the traders is to have a safe harbor where they are free to trade in China without Chinese control, and their fleets (the British navy and merchant ships of many nations) can survive storms. The book ends with a terrible typhoon (foreshadowed by the constant checking of the barometer), that destroys much of Hong Kong. But the fleet is spared. The trade will continue and Hong Kong will rebuild. Upon the death of his father, Culum assumes the role of the new Tai-pan while this half-brother (half Chinese and half Scot from Staran’s mistress plots to control the city.While Clavell’s story does try to give value to the Chinese (their customs and their medicine), it is very much written from a Western point-of-view. I found myself wondering, while reading, how the book would be received in today’s more culturally sensitive and “Me-too” climate.

I read this book about 12 years ago and loved it so I decided to buy a second hand one from the world of books on amazon at a great price it was in quite good conditions I am looking forward to reading iy again

James Clavell was on top of his game when he penned this story of the founding of Hong Kong and of his great character Dirk Struan, pirate, seaman , opium smuggler and empire builder. I could say a lot more but please read the book you will not be sorry.

Bought this for a friend but, had a quick sneak wizz through it to remind myself of it. What a great story, ok here and there a bit of licence taken maybe with the dates and actual reality but hey, still a great story and kindof makes you proud of a bit of heritage somehow too. High tim somebody got a load of dosh and a good set of actors tgether and made a superb blockbuster film of this, I know someone tried years ago to do a low budget version which, being generous, wasn't the worst film I've seen but imagine if spielberg or someone really good took it on. Loadsa money too.

only bought this because I'd read Shogun and I thought well I'm gonna complete the Asian saga. As good as Shogun even if it's set in a different era ( almost 200 years later; Shogun is set in 1600 ) Dirk Struan is the man everybody hates but whether you'll like him or hate him that's up to you. Clavell describe his characters well and there's many and he keeps the action going just like Shogun. There is a violent element running through that gives you the impression that Hong Kong was a powder keg waiting to detonate at any moment but Struan persists with his "mission" regardless. Proper sailor language gives it a sense of reality but overall a great read

I enjoyed Tai- Pan. I was eager to follow the activities of the Struan family. The downside was that at times there were just too many details, but they did paint a picture of world history of the time.