River of smoke by Amitav Ghosh

"River of smoke" by Amitav Ghosh. This book is published by Penguin India in 2012 and has 568 pages. This is Book 2 of Ibis trilogy.

The story starts with a time leap where Deeti is an old woman and matriarch of her clan in Mauritius and her shrine. Then it goes in flashback where the Book 1 ended.

Almost all of the story takes place in China - Canton. It's the story of opium trade in China and story of Parsi merchant Behram (Barry) Modi. The life of traders in Canton is shown in detail and is interesting. Remaining part is dedicated to Paulette's search of golden Camellia through Robin, who is looking for it in Canton.

The tiff between the traders and Chinese authorities about opium trade and British intervention that eventually lead to the opium war is the real story of the book. Author has explained in detail the modus operandi of the trade in China in 1839. It was a unique system unlike any other in the world.

The British arrogance about their superiority in view of Chinese sanctions on opium trade is astonishing. British duplicity of banning opium in their own country and resisting ban in China is abhorrent. Their definition or redefinition of free trade to suit their situation is callous.

Although the politics and history of opium trade, it's ban and impact on lives is interesting, it occupies most of the book (and this book is not small). Thus the book becomes a bit monotonous.

The story is slow. Readers hope that now the story will go back to the characters of Book1, but it doesn't happen. Behram steals the show. It's a sad end to Behram's story.

Although the book is good, it's not as good as 'Sea of poppies'

Read this book, if you intend to read Book 3, otherwise give it a miss.