Praise for River of Smoke

‘Ghosh’s novel is a tense, compelling account… The accumulation of minutiae puts the reader so firmly in the time and place that the whole thing becomes as hypnotic as an opium dream and pretty unputdownable’

‘For those who like to see history bought alive through the deployment of wave upon wave of plausible detail, River of Smoke should prove a marvellous read’

‘The novel’s strength lies in how thoroughly Ghosh fills out his research with his novelistic fantasy, seduced by each new situation that presents itself and each new character, so that the scenes read with a sensual freshness as if they were happening now’

Praise for Sea of Poppies

‘Sea of Poppies boasts a varied collection of characters to love and hate, and provides wonderfully detailed descriptions of opium production … utterly involving and piles on tension until the very last page’

‘Ripping post-colonial yarn … Ghosh spins a fine story with a quite irresistible flow, breathing exuberant life … an absorbing vision’

‘Ghosh’s narrative is enriched with a wealth of historical detail … as well as intricate characterisation that makes interaction among the diverse group truly absorbing’

‘There can be fewer more exciting settings for a novel than a sea-tossed sailing ship … Ghosh piles detail upon detail in a rumbustical adventure’

‘The fantastic Anglo-Asian language they speak is infectious, and the sombre yet uncertain conclusion leaves one eager for the second novel in the trilogy’

An utterly involving book

‘This is a panoramic adventure story, with a Dickensian energy and scope’