A review by drjoannehill
River of Smoke by Amitav Ghosh

5.0

The second of the Ibis trilogy; like Sea of Poppies this covers more history we don't learn in schools (not in England anyway). It's excellent for the richness of languages and cultures brought together across the seas; a celebration of words and communication. Within the beginnings of the Opium Wars, River of Smoke gives us interesting aspects of the arguments around free trade, civilisation and corruption that lie behind the development of the British Empire, stories which are important to remember now when some are trying to put the "glory" of Britain's imperial projects at the centre of school history. Ghosh's novels are some of the most valuable sources for me for learning about the motives for and consequences of turning the map pink.

The story line is perhaps not quite as engaging as Sea of Poppies', though. There are a huge number of characters and stories to read (I'd recommend keeping a note of each character that comes along, because when they came back, I couldn't remember who they were). I am disappointed to learn that the third book in the trilogy is not out yet, so I'll have to wait for that. Well worth reading