DAVID T. FRIENDLY (1986-11-13). "Reagans on 'Soul Man': Thumbs Up". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2012-11-03 . Retrieved 2012-08-23. Tai-Pan is a 1966 novel written by James Clavell about European and American traders who move into Hong Kong in 1842 following the end of the First Opium War. It is the second book in Clavell's Asian Saga, and the first to feature the fictional Struan family.

Russia can afford to wait. When the Ottoman Empire breaks up, she’ll calmly take all the Balkans—Romania, Bulgaria, Bessarabia, Serbia—and as much of the Austro-Hungarian Empire as she can gobble up as well. May–May – Dirk Struan's Chinese mistress, granddaughter of Jin-Qua, instructed to teach Dirk "civilised" (Chinese) ways My memory of Tai-Pan will always be of the teaching or taming of Struan, “the green-eyed devil”, by May-May. What can I say about ‘Tai-Pan’? Is it really a Historical novel? Is it a Alternative History? These are the two questions I keep asking myself while working my way through the late James Clavell’s Asian saga, which for your consideration are the following:

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Tai Pan– Supreme Leader. Wikipedia will tell you that Clavell translates Tai-Pan as “Supreme Leader”. Although, “Big Shot” might be more accurate. The more globally widespread tycoon is common today. Però l'ambientazione e l'epoca sono interessantissime (come gli inglesi si credano superiori a tutti, al pari degli americani e dei russi, o degli stessi cinesi che seguono le loro tradizioni commiserando i barbari incivili che pensano di poter cambiare qualcosa o ottenere qualcosa di duraturo coi loro comportamenti). Treaty of Chuenpi, year 1841 – Peace for twenty-six years and no major war imminent “ unheard of for hundreds of years. Devil Bonaparte safely dead, violent France safely bottled, and Britain world-dominant for the first time.” 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.” It tells the story of a group of helicopter pilots who work for Struans, which is a company offshoot of Nobel House.

Clavell wrote about history, but he leaves a long history of his own. In some ways, he is his own story, with such a long list of achievements. a b KNOEDELSEDER, WILLIAM K Jr. (Aug 30, 1987). "De Laurentiis PRODUCER'S PICTURE DARKENS". Los Angeles Times. p.1. 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) You stink, Culum.” “So does everyone! Why else do we always carry pomades? Stinking is a way of life”Dirk Lochlin Struan is a Scotsman who has spent a good part of his adult life in the orient amassing a fleet of clipper ships and a great fortune. He is called the Tai-Pan. He has made his own joss by being smarter, more ruthless, accumulating more wealth, and being stronger than his opponents. He calls his company The Noble House. The company is built along clan lines with loyalty being first among the most weighted characteristics for joining his empire, and by association, those selected, will also benefiting from his protection. Before anyone has a chance to show loyalty they have to prove something more than just competence. They have to be really good at something that is useful, something that will strengthen “the clan”. Struan is tough on people, but that comes from the struggles he experienced reaching the top of the mountain. 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. Chinese customs, polygamy, a romance worthy of Shakespeare, and a really hard to guess ending Historical & Geopolitical setting:

Before joining Goodreads, I had already read ‘Shogun’, so you, my friendly reader, do not have the luxury of a review of that as comparison, but I believe that what I say about ‘Tai-Pan’, set in Hong Kong, can easily be said of it’s predecessor. Morley Skinner – editor of the island newspaper, privy to secrets handed to him by Dirk Struan to keep his rivals off balanceIn Shogun si aveva da creare lo Shogunato, il destino del Giappone era in gioco e il protagonista era il jolly pescato dall'uomo che avrebbe cambiato la storia nipponica.

A very interesting link that explains the history of this time period. It was so kindly supplied by Margitte. http://www.china-mike.com/china-touri... The extraordinary story of adaptability and resilience of the Jardines conglomerate, founded in 1832 by Scotsmen William Jardine and James Matheson, is one of a kind. Well, Cullum, *sigh*, you have very set opinions for someone who hasn’t even walked a mile beside him yet, and certainly not a step in the very boots that built this empire . Struam is undeterred by Cullum’s assessment and plans to have him take over as the Tai-Pan when he decides to return to England to run for parliament. He will mold the lad whether the lad knows it or not.Shōgun (1980), was adapted by NBC as a television miniseries starring Richard Chamberlain, Toshiro Mifune, and Yoko Shimada; the production was one of the highest rated programs of its kind ever broadcast. Finally, I guess it had the same sort of slight historical liberties as Shogun did, probably, but I know nothing whatsoever of the history of China so I never noticed, and thus that too didn't bother me. Aristotle Quance – painter and hedonist, always in debt. The Struan family own several of his paintings. ALJEAN HARMETZ (Jan 17, 1987). " '86 a Strong Year for Film Industry". New York Times. p.11 – via ProQuest.