Read Book Tai-Pan: the Epic Novel of the Founding of Hong Kong

TAI-PAN: THE EPIC NOVEL OF THE FOUNDING OF HONG KONG PDF, EPUB, EBOOK

Thus begins a vicious cycle which lasts many years. At around pages in length this isn't for the weak of heart, but it is extremely rewarding and one of those historical novels that delivers on two fronts: it not only succeeds as entertainment but education as well. The sea god may hear you. Add to Watchlist Unwatch. More Details Zero customs charges. Pay using card ending in. Domestic handling time. This book indeed is as grand and as entertaining as it gets. Gordon Chen seized leadership of the Hong Kong triad. Beware, you might just keep driving so you can finish it! Are there problems? Barnaby livro Vollversion oryginalny. I meant to start with Shogun and this book was available at the library so I started here first. Brand new: Lowest price The lowest-priced brand-new, unused, unopened, undamaged item in its original packaging where packaging is applicable. I was engrossed the entire time and sad to see the journey come to an end. He shows actual depth, being torn between his cruel, heartless and efficient side and the love he clearly feels for his family. I have since come across plenty of criticisms of Clavell, about how much he got wrong, or mangled irredeemably in the process of crafting his complicated thrillers featuring clashing, pre-modern cultures. Concessions to the barbarians will have to be made Hong Kong and Struan, the devil man, has the ear of the English politician Longstaff or as the Chinese refer to him Odious Penis. I think that's why a person can give a five star to a book like say, The Alchemist, and a four or maybe even a three star, to a Dostoyevsky. From the very opening, with a virgin Hong Kong awaiting its annexation by the British, recently victorious in the First Opium War, and the first taste of the rough-and-ready, brutal-on-a-dime sensibilities of the coarse and cunning Brock, the somewhat more subdued and disciplined Yanks of Cooper-Tillman, and then the magnificent entrance of the swashbuckling-but-practical hero himself, Dirk fucking Struan, the Tai-Pan of the commercial empires, and his half-brother Robb - who so dearly wished to be like Dirk, but just wasn't - all of these heads of Western trading houses and the differing-in-details, but similar-in-spirit dreams of the almost endless potential for Hong Kong - serving as a leverage point for the commercial crowbar they wished to wield to crack open the unimaginable riches of the mysterious and vast Orient - everything is laid out to give the reader a taste of the excitement, the possibility that lay heavy in the humid air. Learn more - opens in a new window or tab Any international postage is paid in part to Pitney Bowes Inc. Bryan Brown was cast to play Dirk Struan and actually plays the part well. Legend of Korra Ser. Like no other books about the war, Wouk's spellbinding narrative captures the tide of global events - and all the drama, romance, heroism, and tragedy of World War II - as it immerses us in the lives of a single American family drawn into the very center of the war's maelstrom. There have been grain riots, tax riots, draft riots, religious riots, but no one wants to see a British TEA riot, by God! Gordon Chen concealed this information from his father. By , Dirk Struan was considered the Tai-pan of all tai-pan. It's a long book, obviously. Hong Kong Paperback Books. It picks up right after the Island is officially ceded to the British after China lost the war and the first thing Clavell does is establish Struan's character. Tai-Pan - A "fantastical" good novel, brilliant characters, enthralling story, awful ending. I'll admit that the first pages or so are difficult to get into, as the author flits from one new character to the next, explaining their backgrounds before getting on with the storytelling. I still have four more novels in this series to go. For additional information, see the Global Shipping Program terms and conditions - opens in a new window or tab This amount includes applicable customs duties, taxes, brokerage and other fees. Tai-Pan: The Epic Novel of the Founding of Hong Kong Writer

As for the performance; Gildart Jackson is, to date, the best narrator I could ever have imagined, and sets a new standard for me going forward. Number-one New York Times best-selling author James Clavell's works have become beloved modern classics. Read more Unfollow podcast failed. They are important and capable, but only to a point. A tour-de-force of historical fiction, rich in detail yet eminently readable, Tai-Pan will stay with you long after the final page. Bryan Brown was cast to play Dirk Struan and actually plays the part well. Pontes rated it it was amazing. Show More. Tai-Pan - A "fantastical" good novel, brilliant characters, enthralling story, awful ending. Posts to:. I enjoyed learning about them and seeing them interact with all of the other characters. However, he longed for recognition from his biological father, Dirk Struan. As befo This is the second of Clavell's 'Asian Saga', but doesn't have any immediately obvious relation to Shogun that comes in book three, apparently , other than being in that no-man's land of historical novels that has characters based off of actual people without actually meaning to be them. May 16, Mike rated it it was amazing Shelves: far-east , historical-fiction , reviewed. I opened the review calling this tale a swashbuckler, and this is certainly a dramatic or literary work dealing with knife wielding, pistol toting daredevils possessing shrewd business sense. Want to Read saving…. Item information Condition:. We encourage you to recycle the packaging from your World of Books purchase. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Clavell was also an ardent supporter of Free Trade, an avowed opponent of Communism and Fascism and an admirer of certain aspects of both Asian and Western culture. But he does tell a tale very well, hooking you so much that this becomes unputdownable. The third part of the arrangement, Struan agreed to sell Jin Qua a sizeable plot of land in Hong Kong with the deed to be recorded in the name of Gordon Chen. James Clavell. The two have been feuding for decades, sworn to destroy each other, despite having similar interests and actually working together a lot of the time. Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer , Hardcover 4. Jul 02, Donna rated it really liked it Shelves: historical-fiction. The descriptions of China, the Chinese people and their interactions with the invading westerners English and Portuguese both are very intriguing for those that are interested in learning about everything Chinese. Audible Premium Plus. In the grand storytelling style that is his signature, James Michener sweeps us back through time to the very beginnings of the Jewish faith, thousands of years ago. All in all, Tai-pan was an excellent listen, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys Clavell, cross-cultural novels, and good ol' swashbuckling fun. This is by far the biggest criticism I have with the book - there is no drama, no tension, nothing that would make me want to get to the end of the story to see whether the hero can overcome it. More filters. As at least one reviewer has already noted, the main character is indeed the paragon of male perfection - it's just dull to read about him, and that's terribly unfortunate, considering nearly all of the characters seem to be obsessed with him. Then, a slew of wonderful side characters, the women being beautiful in different ways, but sly, clever and endearing, and the men, varying dram Oh yes, this is the Clavell I remember from Shogun. Dirk Struan is quite possibly my favorite heroic figure in fiction. About this product. Sexual activity is talked about frequently throughout the book and yo …more There's some gory violence described from occasional battles by sea and by land. Brock was left with his ship, Struan with nothing. Through the remarkable lives of four families, this epic saga spans four centuries and two continents and charts the dramatic formation of several great dynasties from the age of the conquistadors to the present day. Anybody who may have had thoughts of watching the movie instead of reading the book unlikely on GR would be incredibly short changed from the epic experience that only the book can provide. Michener uses individuals' experiences to symbolize the struggle of the various races to establish themselves in the islands. Show More Show Less. Cancel anytime. The story is told through a wide array of POV characters, giving the reader a well rounded v Tai-Pan is an excellent historical fiction about the early days of Hong Kong and British-Chinese trade. The second half of the book is wonderful and definitely worth getting to. Set in Hong Kong in , the action of Noble House spans scarcely more than a week, but these are days of high adventure: from kidnapping and murder to financial double-dealing and natural catastrophes - fire, flood, landslide. I liked this one and I am torn between 3 and 4 stars. Throughout the novel, both men seek to destroy each other in matters of business and personal affairs. This was my first Clavell novel. Tai-Pan: The Epic Novel of the Founding of Hong Kong Reviews In , at the age of seven, Dirk Struan began his nautical adventures as a powder monkey on a King's ship at the Battle of Trafalgar and he remains bound to the sea for life. Miyamoto Musashi becomes a reluctant hero to a host of people whose lives he has touched and by whom he has been touched. Their rocky and often abusive relationship as seamen initiated an intense amount of competitive tension. It is the original classic that has been often imitated, but never matched. The Tai-pan as the reader is reminded seeming every two pages. Gordon Chen concealed this information from his father. While some might be picked up in the sequels, others certainly won't. Gordon Chen seized leadership of the Hong Kong triad. There were a ton of others worth mentioning but I also enjoyed Culum, Quance, Mary, Gordon and their stories. Dec 15, L. Through the remarkable lives of four families, this epic saga spans four centuries and two continents and charts the dramatic formation of several great dynasties from the age of the conquistadors to the present day. Refresh and try again. This is the story of his fight to establish himself and his dynasty as the undisputed masters of the Orient. When the shah is thrown out of Iran, the nation's turmoil becomes world headlines. Item specifics Condition: Very good: A book that does not look new and has been read but is in excellent condition. It felt not unlike the last Harry Potter book, where the author decided that a pure happy ending with everyone succeeding and the protagonist essentially being a God is boring, so she added half a page of "oh, and also these 5 good people died! They spend a good portion of their time thinking to themselves how annoying it is that he is perfect and that they are weak. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. He is a man trapped between cultures, not fully accepted or rejected by either one. Dirk's company is Noble House wish is the title of another of his books, which I will be re-reading next. Their occasional forays into intrigue are ultimately motivated by their desire to protect their families and help their men. Anybody who may have had thoughts of watching the movie instead of reading the book unlikely on GR would be incredibly short changed from the epic experience that only the book can provide. Dramatic episodes, exotic vignettes, and heady descriptivepassages. Free with a day trial. Steve Margitan However, he does suffer from being made to look like the less intelligent, alcoholic and abusive version of Struan. The more confusing characters are usually minor ones, and not being able to recall their connections does not detract from the story. He's too perfect - a paragon of male virtue. Battle-hardened Philopoemen believes the Achean League is facing annihilation if it does not arm. His projections become truths adding a mystical quality to his persona. His character accents were so wonderful, I'm going to see what else he's narrated and buy those, too.

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Domestic handling time. With a Chinese mistress and a slew of bastards in tow? A story without adversity can barely be called a story and no matter how much you like him - a perfect, infallible protagonist is not going to be interesting to read about. This item doesn't belong on this page. The narrator was amazing. So much depth. Stellar Performance Like most people, the first James Clavell novel I read that is, listened too was Shogun, his epic novel about feudal Japan as witnessed through the eyes of a stranded Englishman. Enlarge cover. This book is only second to Shogun. The colony suffers from Malaria, which at that time was thought to come from bad air. Please enter a valid postcode. Los Angeles Times. He plans for any contingencies and shows resilience in the face of a series of setbacks beyond his control. I would be willing to bet that Dirk Straun is probably the idealized version of James Clavell. On top of that the voice acting is supreme. He knows how merciless life can be and his primary goal every day is to protect what is his and the people he cares about. Aug 30, Nikoleta Starkova rated it it was amazing. Fortunately, facts were dismissed as lies. Want to Read Currently Reading Read. For those with experience in HK this is a great listen. He is graced with a silver tongue capable of talking them out of more clothes than they are Sep 19, Jim rated it it was amazing Shelves: 2fiction , historical , 3series , favorites , 1paper. May-May was fun and she stood out the most for me, well and Tai-Pan too. To facilitate this change in pace, an embarrassing number of plot points were just dropped completely. The unusual thing here is that the protagonist already starts out as the undisputed "ruler" of Asia and the most powerful, intelligent, charismatic and wealthiest man in the book. Here, within the seething mass of humanity, one man, an American corporal, seeks dominance over both captives and captors alike. Clavell was also an ardent supporter of Free Trade, an avowed opponent of Communism and Fascism and an admirer of certain aspects of both Asian and Western culture. Not unheard of for authors to do that - especially in this type of fiction. Most Helpful Most Recent. It is a trading company - trading tea, silks, opium and many other things. Actually, I enjoyed his performances so much that I am looking to read another book with his voice work just to experience it again; every character sounded utterly unique, like a completely different person, and this made the story so much more enjoyable to listen too. Daniel The man could tell a tale, and one with enough recognizable features enmeshed within the exotic and the historic to propel his literary vessel across roiling, tempestuous seas. Four-halves were given to Dirk Struan and the other four-halves were kept by Jin Qua. By the novel had sold over a million and a half copies in paperback. His daughter can make him turn from the monster he is to his enemies, to a truly caring and loving father. Packed withaction Lists with This Book. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. Amazon Reviews. Their one objective is to make a bold, concerted escape to safety across the Gulf. Straun has certain specific goals, that are repeatedly challenged through the book. We are never really given an approximation as to how long she had been with Struan, but it seems to be a significant time. It felt not unlike the last Harry Potter book, where the author decided that a pure happy ending with everyone succeeding and the protagonist essentially being a God is boring, so she added half a page of "oh, and also these 5 good people died! https://files8.webydo.com/9584032/UploadedFiles/5E2B47EA-E3A6-D0BD-8D86-F7457FE081F6.pdf https://files8.webydo.com/9583730/UploadedFiles/67CE1259-5DE2-F52D-E718-1575D17A17BF.pdf https://files8.webydo.com/9582963/UploadedFiles/FBBFD019-F47E-5BFC-19B6-64433865C75B.pdf https://files8.webydo.com/9583493/UploadedFiles/095DC009-05F7-2691-355A-3051DFC7702D.pdf https://files8.webydo.com/9582929/UploadedFiles/69496698-A137-2F08-3D54-C05F17C73576.pdf https://files8.webydo.com/9582738/UploadedFiles/7A8C90C5-9330-AAE4-D4A0-58AFE0BBAE3E.pdf https://cdn.starwebserver.se/shops/nellienordinjo/files/the-year-and-our-children-catholic-family-celebrations-for-every-season-697.pdf