“Sea of Poppies” Amitav Ghosh (2008) Review | Leading up to Opium War

★★★★★ In India, under British, Opium farming leading up to the Opium War. That’s already enough for me to like the book even without even opening it. Then, you meet some interesting strong characters. It’s gripping, a grand storytelling.

🔽 log 🔽
Sea of Poppies 
Amitav Ghosh, 2008
559 pages
Read in 2025.12

🔽 Book review and notes 🔽

I'd heard of it for a while and finally, finally started and instantly it was obvious, this is one if those great books.

In India, under British, Opium farming leading up to the Opium War.
That's already enough for me to like the book even without even opening it. 

And immediately you meet some interesting strong characters.
Deeti who had a miserable married life, Paulette and Jodu and their unique friendship, a delicate Raja, Zachary who leads us into the mesmerising journeys.
They all meet on Ibis the slaving ship, all carrying their own destinies - it's as intense as it sounds.
Some of detailed descriptions of ship and sailing are hard for me to follow but that doesn't stop me from getting excited at every page.

It's a trilogy so there are 2 more books to go to give the full view on the story but so far, it's gripping, grand storytelling.
Need to read 2 and 3 soon.

🔽 Related pages 🔽
tag インド/India

🔽 Where to buy / Summary and more info 🔽

●●● Amazon.com (US) ●●●

Sea of Poppies

●●● Amazon.co.uk (UK) ●●●
Sea of Poppies: Ibis Trilogy Book 1 Kindle Edition

●●● Amazon.it (Italy) ●●●
Sea of Poppies: Ibis Trilogy Book 1 (English)