Tai-Pan [Hardcover]

James Clavell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1980

Set in the turbulent days of the founding of Hong Kong in the 1840s, "Tai-Pan" is the story of Dirk Struan, the ruler - the Tai-Pan - of the most powerful trading company in the Far East. He is also a pirate, an opium smuggler, and a master manipulator of men. This is the story of his fight to establish himself and his dynasty as the undisputed masters of the Orient.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Intensely readable and exciting' -- Sunday Telegraph 'James Clavell is a teller of stories. They are complicated and exciting, and you are desperate to know what will happen to his characters because they are like the people you know from your own life and experience, set in strange and sometimes terrible circumstances' -- John Simpson 'Packed with action ... gaudy and flamboyant with blood and sin, treachery and conspiracy, sex and murder ... grand entertainment' -- New York Times --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

James Clavell, the son of a Royal Navy family, was educated in Portsmouth before, as a young artillery officer, he was captured by the Japanese at the Fall of Singapore. After the war Clavell worked in the film industry producing a number of successful films including To Sir with Love. He died in 1994. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Holiday House (January 1980)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689110685
• ISBN-13: 978-0689110689
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (110 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,509,878 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

James Clavell, who died in 1994, was a screenwriter, director, producer, and novelist born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Although he wrote the screenplays for a number of acclaimed films, including The Fly (1958), The Great Escape (1963), and To Sir With Love (1967), he is best known for his epic novels in his Asian Saga.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my all-time favorites!, June 6, 2005

By 

JanSobieski (United States of America) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tai-Pan (Mass Market Paperback)

The first time I read Tai Pan was in college 30 years ago. I picked it up reluctantly, despite a strong recommendation from a friend, because it was about China and Hong Kong about which I had little interest. But I read it nonetheless and was absolutely transfixed. I've just finished reading it again at age 54 and can heartily still recommend this book.

This is the story of the founding of Hong Kong as told through the fictional characters of Dirk Struan, his son Cullum, their arch-enemy Tyler Brock and many others. Dirk Struan is the Tai Pan (supreme leader) of the Noble House, the largest and strongest of the China traders. Tyler Brock is his sworn enemy since Struan first served aboard an English man-of-war and experienced the lash from Brock's hands as a "powder monkey" at Trafalgar aboard the 110-gunship Royal Soverign.

Clavell uses Struan as the embodiment of the best virtues of the English system with her rule of law and the Chinese system. Brock, while not without redeeming qualities, reflects some of the worst features of the English system. Struan is receptive to the virtues of the Chinese culture while remaining a patriotic Englishman.

Struan has acquired many of the habits of the Chinese including bathing 2-3 times a day (as opposed to the rest of the English who believe that bathing renders one susceptible to the "flux") wearing light cloths and boots, and many others. He takes a Chinese concubine, May-May, and has children by her. His eldest half caste son, Gordon Chen, from a previous concubine plays a major role as well.

Struan is no saint, particularly when viewed from the perspective of the 21st century, or for that matter even when viewed from the perspective of his own time. But he is one of the most intriguing fictional characters you're likely ever to come across. This book was first published in 1966 so the idiocy of PC had not yet reared its ugly head. And this book pays little heed to the silly PC concerns of our time and is correspondingly refreshing.

If you like your characters strong, raw, unadulterated, and realistic and love a great story line this book will not disappoint. My only misgiving about the book was that it had to end at 732 small-print pages. The good news is that the book Noble House, though it takes place 120 years later does continue the saga of the Noble House and provide the follow-up on the characters that you come to know and love in Tai-Pan.

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fabulous, unforgettable, larger than life Epic!, October 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Tai-Pan (Mass Market Paperback)

I just finished reading Tai-Pan for the second time. The first time I read it was nine years ago. At that time I was sure it was one of the best epics ever written. Now with nine more years of wisdom I am convinced. Clavell writes a fascinating tale of ruthless men and women in 19th century Asia. The dialogue is at times witty and the ending is the best I have ever read. I am now faced with the grim task of trying to find another book to read that comes close to the grandeur of this novel.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully captures the founding of Hong Kong, March 8, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Tai-Pan (Mass Market Paperback)

This thoroughly enjoyable historical novel captures the atmosphere of China and Hong Kong in the mid 1800's. Dirk Struan, hero of this adventures, is a strongly written character who you can't help admiring and cheering on. I loved the way Clavell weaved together a compelling story with such descriptive details and historical facts that advance our understanding of characters and events. Because of this book, I read Jonathan Spence's history "God's Chinese Son", which I also recommend. I can't recommend the novel strongly enough for fans of historical fiction