Tai-Pan: The Second Novel of the Asian Saga

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About Power) “I’m saying that without power you canna be a saint in this day and age. Power for its own sake is a sin. Money for its own sake is a sin.” After visiting Hong Kong with Benson Fong in 1962, Clavell returned in 1963 with his family for a year. He said it took him five false starts, 241 days to write a first draft, and 12 weeks to do the second. Clavell originally wanted the novel to span from the establishment of Hong Kong until the present day but when writing it decided to end the novel on the death of the first tai pan. He did so much research it gave him the idea to write a trilogy; in particular he later wrote a novel set in 1963 Hong Kong, Noble House. [5] [6] It turns out, reading Tai Pan was so much more than an interesting history lesson: the book has a perfectly crafted narrative, with Hollywood worthy, vivid action scenes, eye-catching descriptions, and a complex plot – with a surprising ending (that’s all I’ll say, no spoilers) Morley Skinner – editor of the island newspaper, privy to secrets handed to him by Dirk Struan to keep his rivals off balance Cow chillo = young woman in Pidgin English : “No stop can this one piece cow chillo, Mass’er,” the servant said in pidgin English, holding on to the struggling girl. Only through pidgin could the traders … No Spoilers

Tai-Pan by James Clavell | Waterstones

Chinese Manners) “It was the height of Chinese decorum to pretend to the host that the food was so good that one could eat no more, even though both host and guest knew they would continue to eat ravenously.” a b c d Rosenfield, Paul (19 April 1981). "Author James Clavell: A Legend in His Own Time". Los Angeles Times. p.15. 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 ClavellRoger Blore – gambler, makes an unheard of record time journey to Hong Kong, later becomes Dirk Struan's horse racing club owner I wonder if the barbarian God is like our Chinese gods. Who, if you think about it, are very stupid. But not really. They’re like human beings with all our weaknesses and strengths.” A Jardine Matheson representative office was established in Australia in 1963 (fictionalized as the next assignment of Linbar Struan). The Ho Pak bank run storyline mirrored the real Hang Seng Bank run in 1965. The two primary banks, Victoria Bank and Blacs, were the fictionalized HSBC and Standard Chartered, respectively. The big set-pieces—the fire on the boat and the landslide—were closely modeled on real events (the Jumbo Floating Restaurant fire in 1971 and the Kotewall Road disaster in 1972). Sextant = instrument used for measuring the angular distances between objects and especially for taking altitudes in navigation and surveying. “Without this beauty we’d be lost. You’ve heard of Captain Cook? He used the first one, and proved it, sixty years ago.” In 1837, Jin-qua arranged for May–May, his favourite granddaughter, to become Dirk Struan's mistress. She was secretly assigned the task of teaching "the green-eyed devil" Struan "civilised" (Chinese) ways.

Tai-Pan book by James Clavell - ThriftBooks Tai-Pan book by James Clavell - ThriftBooks

Davis, Ivor (20 Feb 1988). "Clavell is a big winner on the small screen". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. p.8. About God/Religion) “There is only one God. One!” “Prove it,” she said. “I canna do that.” “There, you see. How can mortal man prove God, any god? But I am a Christian like you. But, fortunate, also Chinese, and in these god things better think a little Chinese. Werry wise to keep a werry open mind.I had not read James Clavell’s Shogun, so I was unaware of the other books in his Asian Saga. Until Printre Randuri suggested I read Tai Pan. The novel follows the life of Dirk Struan, British trader in Asia, and his plots and efforts to expand trade following the British victory of the first Opium War and the seizure of Hong Kong. You stink, Culum.” “So does everyone! Why else do we always carry pomades? Stinking is a way of life”

Tai-Pan by James Clavell | Blackstone Publishing Tai-Pan by James Clavell | Blackstone Publishing

Tai-Pan is a 1986 adventure drama film directed by Daryl Duke, loosely based on James Clavell's 1966 novel of the same name. While many of the same characters and plot twists are maintained, a few smaller occurrences are left out. Filmed under communist Chinese censorship, some portions of Clavell's story were considered too offensive to be filmed as written and considerable changes were made. John Chen: the favorite son of Phillip Chen. He is set to inherit the title of compradore from his father, but plans to sell out by giving confidential information to Bartlett. John steals Jin-Qua's half-coin that was given to Gordon Chen and passed down the family. But before he can give or sell the coin to Bartlett, John is kidnapped by a gang and eventually killed by his captors.Lincoln Bartlett: American millionaire, head of Par-Con Industries. He is a devotee of Sun Tzu and views business as a kind of war. He believes in corporate espionage and misleading his partners as he vies for advantage. But he is an honest businessman according to the rules that he accepts, and he does not engage in illegal activities. He is in love with his Executive Vice President, Casey Tcholok. Mary Sinclair – secret English prostitute and devotee/spy of Dirk Struan, and sister of Horatio Sinclair The Brits’ hygiene) “Wash my clothes? Why, that’ll make them shrink and spoil the cut and goodness knows what!” I would not recommend this place at all. Considering it closed down not long ago you would have thought they would have improved!