ISBN: 9780143426127    Publisher: Penguin Books India (27 July 2016) Year of publishing: 2016     Format:  Paperback No of Pages: 632        Language: English

'A triumph of storytelling' The Hindu. It is 1839. The British whose opium exports to China have been blockaded by Beijing are planning an invasion to force China's hand. In Calcutta Zachary Reid an impoverished young sailor dreams of his lost love and of a way to make his fortunes. Heading towards Calcutta is Havildar Kesri to lead a regiment of Indian volunteers in the upcoming war. In Mumbai Shireen Modi prepares to sail alone to China to reclaim her opium trader husband's wealth and reputation. In Canton Neel becomes an aide and translator to a senior Chinese official as Beijing begins to prepare for war with Britain and the more he sees the more worried he becomes for the Chinese have neither the ships nor the artillery to match the British in modern warfare. The future seems clear but do the Chinese know it?
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