An absolute masterpiece of twenty-first century literature from the master storyteller.
Selling Points: Shortlisted for The Economist Crossword Book Award and the Man Asian Literary Prize. ‘A stirring portrayal of the Past’—The New York Times. ‘A subversive act of empathy, viewing a whole panorama of world history from the ‘‘wrong’’ end of the telescope fabulously entertaining’—The Observer. ‘A profoundly exciting writer’—Hindustan Times.

The Book: In 1838, the Ibis, carrying a cargo of convicts and labourers, falls victim to a cyclone in the Bay of Bengal. Among the survivors are Neel, a pampered raja charged with embezzlement, Paulette, a French orphan masquerading as a deck-hand and Deeti, a widowed poppy grower fleeing India with her lover. Also caught in the storm is Anahita, owned by the wealthy Parsi merchant Bahram Modi, which holds the largest consignment of opium ever to leave India. And the Redruth, which carries Frederick Penrose, a horticulturist determined to track down China’s rare and priceless plants. They will all converge in Canton, on the edge of China, as the Opium War begins to rage.

Praise for the book: ‘Ghosh’s characters are minutely etched figures with varied personal histories, idiosyncrasies and sartorial choices. In their sheer wealth of detail, they are reminiscent of Madhubani’s miniatures, A sensuous feast’—Hindustan Times. ‘Generous helpings of humour, adventure, history, romance, villainy and suspense are expertly blended into the narrative to make for a rich and entertaining read’—Outlook.