OverviewRiver of Smoke is an English novel written by Amitav Ghosh, and published by Penguin Books Ltd. in 2015.
SynopsisOften compared by the readers to an opiate induced dream, River of Smoke is the second part of Amitav Ghosh's famed Ibis Trilogy. The plot follows the journey of a former slave ship, Ibis, as it is caught in the midst of a deadly cyclone in the Bay of Bengal. Anahita, another ship which carries opium is also caught in the midst of a similar storm. As the storm forces these two ships and Redruth, a sturdy craft carrying horticulturists to converge to Canton's coast town of Fanqui, the plot thickens and starts to develop. The storm sets in motion the opium wars, over the largest consignment of opium to leave the Indian mainland. Slow-developing yet gripping, the author has received wide praise for the manner in which he keeps the readers on edge throughout the book. A must-read for lovers of historical fiction, the second instalment only makes the reader yearn for more of the Ibis trilogy.
About the AuthorAmitav Ghosh was born in Calcutta, and completed his Doctorate from the Oxford University- after which he published his first novel. His books have been translated into over 20 languages, making him a renowned author in the Indian fiction circle.
