Tai-Pan (A Novel of Hong Kong) (original 1966; edition 1967)

This is my third James Clavell novel: previously I've read Shogun and King Rat.

Tai-Pan is about the foundation of Hong Kong in the 1840s, with the main characters being the families of two Scottish traders.

This is another engrossing tale, with Clavell's unique style. Surprising easy to read, and difficult to put down once you become interested in the characters and situations.

I didn't find it quite as good as Shogun, but that's maybe because I read Shogun first and it's difficult for other books in the same style to compete.

My main criticism is that I felt some of the characters were a bit one-dimensional, and there was a bit too much black and white. For example, Dirk Struan is a good guy, and his son is basically good if a bit naive; whereas Tyler Brock is a bad guy, and his son is just evil. I felt that Shogun was better in this respect.

I found the pigeon English interesting, because I wasn't aware of this meet-half-way language that was used in the Chinese pors in the 19th century. ( )

I'm working my way through this series again. The movie version of this was on TV this week and it reminded me how much I liked it the first time around. ( )

I read this book after reading Shogun. I think I would have thought better of it if I'd read it first.

I have no interest in reading it again. ( )

Not as good as Shogun but still well written and worthwhile. Also set in Japan with rich history, characters and plotting. ( )

After reading Shogun and King rat (and really liking both books), I decided to pick up Tai-pan.

The books tells the story of Dirk Struan, the Tai-pan (leader) of a large trade company in Asia, trading between China and England. He has a lot of enemies he has to deal with, dirty deals to make, etc., etc. All this is done with the founding and rise of Hong Kong in the background.

The book really disappointed me. The characters are shallow, the story is simple and highly predictable, very repetitious and the end is, well... pretty ridiculous. People who are hoping for an interesting historic novel (I was one) don't need to bother, the book is a bad kind of action novel, coincidentally taking place in and around Hong Kong in 1840.

In all, not a book you have to read, even when you really liked Shogun and King rat. ( )