Synopsis
Flood of Fire is a novel by Indian novelist Amitav Ghosh. It is the last volume of the Ibis trilogy. 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, and find a new life for herself again. 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? Fusing a profound understanding of history with page-turning narration, Flood of Fire-the final part of the Ibis Trilogy-is nothing short of a masterpiece. This is Amitav Ghosh writing at the height of his powers.
About the Author
Amitav Ghosh is the Author of ten highly acclaimed works of fiction and non-fiction which include the Booker Prize shortlisted Sea of Poppies (book one of the Ibis Trilogy), River of Smoke, The Glass Palace and The Shadow Lines. He has won numerous prizes, some of which are the Sahitya Akademi Award, the Pushcart Prize and the Grinzane Cavour Prize. He divides his time between New York and India.
