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Sea of Poppies

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Sea of Poppies

By: Amitav Ghosh
Narrated by: Kish Sharma
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About this listen

At the heart of this epic saga, set just before the Opium Wars, is an old slaving-ship, The Ibis. Its destiny is a tumultuous voyage across the Indian Ocean, its crew a motley array of sailors and stowaways, coolies and convicts.

In a time of colonial upheaval, fate has thrown together a truly diverse cast of Indians and Westerners, from a bankrupt Raja to a widowed villager, from an evangelical English opium trader to a mulatto American freedman. As their old family ties are washed away they, like their historical counterparts, come to view themselves as jahaj-bhais or ship-brothers. An unlikely dynasty is born, which will span continents, races and generations.

The vast sweep of this historical adventure spans the lush poppy fields of the Ganges, the rolling high seas, and the exotic backstreets of China. But it is the panorama of characters, whose diaspora encapsulates the vexed colonial history of the East itself, which makes Sea of Poppies so breathtakingly alive - a masterpiece from one of the world's finest novelists.

©2008 Amitav Ghosh (P)2009 Isis Publishing Ltd Fantasy Historical Fiction Destiny Sailing
All stars
Most relevant
Fascinating depiction of opium in India and the consequences of colonial imperialism. Good narration too. Looking forward to the next.

Slow to start but then…,

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Kish Sharma brings Amitav Ghosh's intriguing and engaging story to life with a range of voices, characterisations and accents that gathers you in to follow this truly masterful work of modern day literature. With the art and craft of a latter day Dickens, Ghosh has brought to life the Bengal of the early mid 19th century and, like few narrators known to this avid audiobook listener, Sharma does all justice. It's immediately onto River of Smoke. Just surely as an opium addict, I'm chasing the dragon.

Brilliant Story - Amazing Narration

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It's a great story that reminds us of the rogue East India Company's loot and plunder of India and it's waging unfair war against China. Shame on colonialism, shame on white supremacy.

A great book, a reminder of colonial history

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Gripping storyline with well developed characters. A glimpse at an aspect of history I knew almost nothing about - the British Empire's involvement in the opium trade and the devastating effects of opium addiction. Kish Sharma does a particularly brilliant job of the narration. Thoroughly recommend.

Brilliant historical fiction

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