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The trade was engineered by the British Empire, which exported Indian opium to sell to China and redress their great trade imbalance, and its revenues were essential to the Empire's financial survival. Moving deftly between horticultural histories, the mythologies of capitalism, and the social and cultural repercussions of colonialism, in Smoke and Ashes Amitav Ghosh reveals the role that one small plant had in making our world, now teetering on the edge of catastrophe. Opium's Hidden Histories. 71 Balham High Road, Balham, SW12 9AP The Booker-shortlisted author of the Ibis trilogy explores the impact of opium on global history, economies, cultures, and his own understanding of self. Format: HardbackLength: 416 pagesPublication date: 15 February 2024Publisher: John Murray Press 'The writing is sublime, the research thorough, the eye for story superb' Sunday Telegraph So it pays to be quick! When Amitav Ghosh began the research for his monumental cycle of novels, 'The Ibis Trilogy', ten years ago, he was startled to find how the lives of the 19th century sailors and soldiers he wrote of were dictated not only by the currents of the Indian Ocean, but also by the precious commodity carried in enormous quantities on those currents: opium. Sun: 10am-6pm
Reviews
Kedar Patel
A different and intriguing plot, excellent descriptive use of language and great knowledge of life and times in 1921 particularly of the military role as well as the Imperial Police force. I certainly was captured and drawn in straight away. Great quick read
Whispering Stories
Captain Sam Wyndham describes that he’s far from perfect but is determined to solve the murders going above and beyond to get justice. I certainly enjoyed all the twist and turns this book had to offer, the characters and ways of Captain Sam his use of opium, the opium dens and Surrender-not the sergeant a good man who was always trying to keep Sam on the straight and narrow did make me compare them to Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson! It was a riddle worth savouring , but I didn’t have the time, seeing as I was running for my life” ……….
The book held my attention from the first line to the last sentence, the author describes the country and settings in great detail that it’s not hard to imagine Calcutta in 1921 a time in the history of changes when the Indians were peacefully protesting about British rule. “It’s not unusual to find a corpse in a funeral parlour it’s just rare for them to walk in the door under their own steam.
Abir Mukherjee’s description of the time and place is so detailed I was instantly transported into another world of sights and smells. These are the opening lines of Smoke and Ashes by Abir Mukherjee, who could not resist reading more!
Another great adventure with sam Wyndham and surrender not bannerjee! The other main character is Sam’s sergeant Surrender-not Banerjee an Indian working in the Imperial Police Force who had sacrificed his family to work in the force.
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