Sea of Poppies
Ghosh, Amitav

Description

In the running for the 2008 Booker Prize and deservedly so, this is the new novel from the much-acclaimed author of The Glass Palace.  In nineteenth century India, amidst her poppy-fields alongside the Ganges, Deeti has a vision of a tall-masted ship ocean-faring ship that she could never have laid eyes on. A ship just like The Ibis which at that moment is wending its way to Calcutta ultimately steered to its destination by Zachary who began the voyage as the ship's carpenter. Deeti and Zachary are just two of the innumerable brilliantly-drawn characters whose fate is to be intertwined with this old-slave carrying vessel. Ghosh's writing is superbly descriptive, speckled with humour as well as drama, as you find yourself immediately immersed into a world of opium factories workers, exploitative Western businessmen and Rajas with their dynasties in decline

Oh, oh, AND this is just part 1 of a trilogy.

Paperback - John Murray - 2009

Price: £7.99

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