Tai-Pan – the title every trader in China aspired to – the richest, most powerful trader in Asia.

The Story

Set just when Hong Kong “this worthless piece of rock?!?!?” had been ceded to Great Britain, this epic novel deals with the traders who tried to gain this prestigious title – particularly two trading houses, Brock and Straun. While not exactly portrayed as a battle between Good and Evil, the readers sympathies are with the Strauns, particularly the owner, Dirk.

The Characters

The aforementioned Dirk is the main character of the book, and despite the fact that he’s not portrayed idealistically – he has his bad points and is certainly ruthless – he’s an extremely likeable character you can empathise with, and you want him to succeed. His brother Robb and nephew Callum are rather weedy characters, which just serves to show how strong Dirk is, and how he holds not just the business but also his family together. He has a Chinese consort called May-May, who is a much more complex character than she at first appears. Another thing about Dirk that appeals to me is that he has adopted some of the Chinese customs in his life, which is something the other English there refuse to even think of doing.

The Brocks – Tyler (the father) and Gorth (the son) are foul-mouthed and I always get a picture in my mind of someone who hasn’t washed for decades when I read their names! They are easily dislikeable characters but not cheesily so. The daughter, Tess, is beautiful but also very naïve, which leads to some interesting situations…

There’s a huge supporting cast of peripheral characters, such as the exotically beautiful Eurasian Mary Sinclair, and the wrinkly old Chinese man Jin-Qua, who is much more than he seems…

Locations

Set in Hong Kong, Clavell exhibits a deep understanding of the places, attitudes, and foibles of the time and place. The descriptive prose is excellent without getting overly ponderous. The attitudes etc of the time and place include many an oath and some very frank sexual language, which although not desirable is written as an intrinsic part of the background and not for shock factor.

Plot Development

The plot is immense and absorbing. Not quite as epic in scope as Clavell’s greatest masterpiece Shogun, but epic in its own right. The story begins in earnest when Jin-Qua bails out the suddenly destitute Straun (after a run on the bank that contained, after Robb’s suggestion and against Dirk’s better judgement, their entire assets) – for a promise. What the promise would turn out to be and when it was expected to be fulfilled was not stated, but the promise had to be fulfilled…

The complexity of the book is area, you can really get lost in it. If you read part of it and come back to it later, it’s not half as confusing as reading Shogun on an on-off basis, however!

The Writing

What really makes this book special is the detail. For instance, the flag code system used by Straun’s clippers as they race in to port is described, and how the competitors have all tried to break this code. May-May’s attempt to appear more European for a Ball ending in disaster. The delicate use of chopsticks and dim-sum in gaining / losing face.

There’s political intrigue, sexual tension, familial stress, swashbuckling action, personal grudges – everything you need for a ripping yarn, really. (That as my entry to the “How many clichés can you fit into a single sentence” competition… I win…) The writing style throughout is superb. Clavell really does this sort of historical novel better than anyone else I’ve read to date.

I have read the follow-up to this, “Whirlwind”, which is set in more recent times, and it just didn’t grab me in the same way. Maybe it’s just me…?

The Bottom Line (before the Bottom Line…)

If you loved Shogun, you’ll love this too. In fact if you’ve read any of Clevell’s novels, you won’t be at all disappointed with this.

It’s not for those who want an undemanding read (yep Teri, I mean you!!), but if you like an involving and complex story, this stands up with the very best of them.

As an introduction to Clavell, this is probably a better bet than Shogun, as it’s somewhat shorter and a bit easier to read.

If you’re easily offended, avoid this.

Related Review

Shogun, also by James Clavell

Recommended: Yes