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Tai-Pan

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

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The sweeping epic novel of the founding of Hong Kong, by the #1 New York Times bestselling author and unparalleled master of historical fiction, James Clavell

“There can only be one Tai-Pan.”

Dirk Struan rose from humble beginnings to build Struan & Company, also known as the Noble House, into the world’s largest Far East trading company. He is now the Tai-Pan—Supreme Leader—of all Tai-Pans in China. Along the way, however, he made a powerful enemy. Tyler Brock, Struan’s rival from their early opium-smuggling days, also heads a large trading fleet, second in size only to Struan’s. But it is not only silks and spices that drive their mutual companies’ wealth—the opium trade is still booming. War between England and China might be over, but the hostilities remain. Struan and Brock come to control much of England’s trade with China yet neither can control their desires or their hatred of each other. Over the years, their two families will cross paths, threatening to rip both apart, with reverberations that will echo across the generations.

Struan must fight to save his company and his family, or risk seeing everything he has created destroyed at the hands of his sworn enemy. Ambition, political intrigue, and love and lust weave their way throughout the novel the New York Times called, “grand entertainment…packed with action…with blood and sin, treachery and conspiracy, sex and murder.” East and West come together in an opulent and intricately plotted narrative. A tour-de-force of historical fiction, rich in detail yet eminently readable, Tai-Pan will stay with you long after the final moment.

©1966 James Clavell (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Political War & Military China War Thought-Provoking Military
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I've been delighted to find Clavell's books on audio, having read them when I was much younger. Tai Pan is a rollicking good story, with really strong characters (Dirk is a bit like Reacher - men want to be him, women want to be with him!). The narration was excellent, given the variety of characters in the book, each with such specific country/cultural backgrounds. Even the Scottish dialect was reasonable, since it usually gets mangled by narrators unless they are actually Scottish!

Excellent value for money too - got this as one of my 'monthly subscriptions', getting more than 30h listening.

Fantastic story and narration

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breathtaking story. James Clavell at his best.
Fantastic performance.
I highly recommend this series of books

A truly fantastic story, brilliantly read.

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1 of the very best books , great story lots of interesting characters, the story telling really takes you there

Truly outstanding

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Gildart Jackson is my favourite narrator and he has given the most marvellous, memorable performance in the telling of this gripping, beautifully wrought story. I listened over three days as I was so loathe to put it down.

Exceptional

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Loved everything about this story and reading of same. Great ending. Highly recommend to everyone.

Brilliant

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