Tai-Pan: The Second Novel of the Asian Saga

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I did already kinda peek at the beginning and was certainly not bored with his version of the Namamugi attack.

Clavell had an amazing talent for writing natural sounding dialogue between lovers and he showed it in Tai-Pan just as he did in Shogun. And then fate and chance work their inevitable twists and unforeseen disasters into the mix, and we are plunged into a complex, interrelated web of schemes, ploys, conspiracies, violence, lusts, and desperation, as the House of Struan strives to recover from happenstance misfortune without selling the British portion of Hong Kong's soul, whilst the House of Brock, under the glint-eyed, heavy-handed leadership of Brock and the brutal energies of his hulking son, Gorth, do everything in their power to ensure that Struan and Company flounder and sink, thus enabling Brock to assume to title of Tai-Pan that he holds by right should be his. It's recommended from an entertainment perspective rather than for any historical gleanings that might be achieved.A great protagonist, one I was glad to follow through regardless of whether I actually liked him as a person or not. A forewarning though- you really have to get past the pidgin and broken language, because some of the conversations will drive you nuts if you don't. They were fantastic stories about marvel-filled adventures, often of a knight errant portrayed as having heroic qualities, who goes on a quest) only in this case Dirk Straun's quest is the never ending struggle to ensure that his company continue to thrive.

I finished this book way back and to be honest I'm not sure why I haven't gotten round to writing the review. Tai-Pan was Clavell’s second book, first published in 1966, and is coincidentally also the second chronological book in his Asian saga of books.Even the word “Tai-Pan” is used somewhat incorrectly, as it implies in the novel that the Tai-Pans (Definition: The head or owner of a business establishment), have great political power, maybe even more impressive power than the British Government itself, certainly something that Struan leaves an impression on from time to time, but not an emphasis which the word lends itself to.