"Tai Pan", by James Clavell- Book Review

Like the rest of James Clavell's Asian saga, "Tai Pan" has a width that can be daunting to perspective readers. At a mere 700ish pages, this tome is at the light end of Clavell's works. Don't let the size fool you. "Tai Pan" is a entertaining read that readers breeze through more quickly than they expect to. In "Tai Pan", James Clavell accomplishes what authors of historical fiction strive for. He captures his readers and transports them to a different age and place.

"Tai Pan" opens in the year 1841, in the wake of the Opium War. Hong Kong is the most recent addition to the Brittish Empire. Most deem the island a worthless rock acquired through a diplomatic misstep. But one man, Dirk Struan, Tai-Pan of the Noble House, the preeminent trading house in Asia, sees Hong Kong as his greatest achievement. He believes that the port at Hong Kong will make it the gateway to Asia and the shining Jewel of Britain's Asian Empire. However, hanging onto Hong Kong will not be an easy task for Dirk Struan. Perserving his greatest achievment Hong Kong will conflict with holding onto the Noble House, his remaining family, and the Chinese mistress whom he loves.

Through detailed discription, Clavell develops characters and settings that become real in the minds of the reader. Clavell also demonstrates and ability to balance action and drama. Despite his voluminous discriptions and plethora of background information, Clavell the action is engaging enough to keep the reader entertained throughout the novel.

"Tai Pan", along with the rest of Clavell's Asian saga, recieves my highest recomendations. "Tai-Pan" once again throws you headlong into the East. Though Clavell repeatedly states that all of the characters and happening in the book are fictional, his detail and insight into asian culture is truely amazing. Dirk Struan becomes so real, that you can't help but despise his enemies, love his lovers, and have a sense of longing to be or at least know someone like him.