River of Smoke

Autor*innen

Amitav Ghosh

Buchbewertung

3,9(7832)Abgeben

Reihen

2 von 3 - Die Ibis Trilogie

Parameter

480 Seiten
17 Lesestunden

Mehr zum Buch

The Ibis, laden with indentured servants, battles a cyclone in the Bay of Bengal. Among those fighting for survival are Neel, a pampered raja convicted of embezzlement; Paulette, a French orphan disguised as a deckhand; and Deeti, a widowed poppy grower escaping with her lover, Kalua. The storm also endangers the clipper ship Anahita, carrying the largest opium shipment from India to Canton, while the nursery ship Redruth transports horticulturist "Fitcher" Penrose, who seeks China's hidden botanical treasures with healing, beautifying, or intoxicating properties. These characters converge in Canton's Fanqui-Town, a chaotic enclave where civilizations clash and sometimes merge, poised on the brink of the Opium Wars. The narrative is rich with coincidences, reversals of fortune, and tender love stories, but it transcends mere entertainment. It explores the relentless pursuit of wealth, the dominance of the drug trade, and the hidden motives behind the rhetoric of freedom. This historical novel intertwines the nineteenth and twenty-first centuries, resulting in a compelling tale that resonates with contemporary issues. Critics have lauded the previous installment for its vibrant storytelling and humor, and this continuation promises to captivate readers worldwide.