River Of Smoke
by Ghosh, Amitav
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On May 30, 2015, CloggieDownunder said
“Opium is like the wind or the tides: it is outside my power to affect its course. A man is neither good nor evil because he sails his ship upon the wind. It is his conduct towards those around him – his friends, his family, his servants – by which he must be judged. This is the creed I live by” River of Smoke is the second book in the Ibis Trilogy by Amitav Ghosh. The story starts with an elderly Deeti Colver in Mauritius, visiting her shrine with its pictorial record of the family history. But another visitor is asked to make his not-insignificant contribution: soon the reminiscences of Neel Rattan Halder, also familiar to readers from Sea of Poppies, take over the tale. The reader learns the fate of some of the passengers of the Ibis after the storm in the Bay of Bengal, in particular, Paulette Lambert , Ah Fatt and Neel, with occasional mentions of Zachary Reid’s fate. But the majority of this book centres on Ah Fatt’s Parsi father, Seth Bahram Modi, whose opium-laden ship, the Anahita, weathers the same storm in the Bay of Bengal, en route to Canton, and on events there as the Chinese Emperor takes steps to eradicate the scourge of the opium trade on his people. Once again, Ghosh gives the reader a tremendous amount of information: of course, opium trade features largely, but Chinese customs, trade and diplomacy, bird’s nest soup, the transport of live plants across the globe, Asian art, painted gardens and Napoleon all get a mention. And providing all this, as he does, in the context of an engaging story set against the backdrop of events leading to the First Opium War, he makes it easy to assimilate. His characters are all well-rounded: their backstories often forming interesting little tales by themselves. His (and his ancestor’s) fascination with the migration of words is apparent in the many different language forms that appear: local patois, pidgin and slang. The number of aliases that some of the characters have is another intriguing facet of this book. As well as straight narrative, Ghosh gives the reader facts by employing the device of a newcomer’s first impressions and explanations. The letters from Robin Chinnery to Paulette, in particular, serve this purpose, as well as being a marvellous source of humour. This book, like the first, is filled with beautiful descriptive prose and insightful observations: “Nowhere on earth, I suspect, is the importance of portals as well understood as in China. In this country, gateways are not merely entrances and exits - they are tunnels between different dimensions of existence”. Another excellent read that will have fans looking forward to the third book, Flood of Fire.
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River of Smoke
by Amitav Ghosh
- Condition
- Used - Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Fine
- Published
- 2011
- ISBN
- 9780719568985
- Quantity Available
- 1
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Tomball, Texas, USA
- Item Price
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NZ$120.47
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First UK Edition/First Printing with a "1" on the copyright page: A Fine book in a Fine dust jacket with no apparent flaws, as new and unread. SIGNED by the author on the title page. An outstanding copy of this novel by the award winning author of "Sea of Poppies", "The Circle of Reason", etc. This title somewhat scarce in… Read more about this item Item Price
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River of Smoke: Ibis Trilogy Book 2
by Amitav Ghosh
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- Used - Very Good
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GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
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NZ$7.41
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Hardback. Very Good. Item Price
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River of Smoke
by Amitav Ghosh
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- Used - Fine Condition
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- Fine
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- First US Edition
- Published
- 2011
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780374174231
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Mona Vale, New South Wales, AUS
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NZ$20.96
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Farrar, Straus and Giroux, USA, 2011. First US Edition. Hardcover. Fine Condition/Fine. Book Inscribed by Author. Size: Large 8vo ( 9 to 11 inches). Item Type: Book. Inscribed by Author. ISBN/EAN: 9780374174231.. 9780374174231 Item Price
NZ$20.96
River of Smoke
by Ghosh, Amitav
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- Used - Near Fine
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- Near Fine
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- First US Edition/First Printing
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- 2011
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- Hardcover
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Albany, California, USA
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NZ$25.82
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New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2011. First US Edition/First Printing. Hardcover. Near Fine/Near Fine. First American Edition stated with full number line down to and including 1. In blue boards and gilt to spine. Some wear to bottom edge of front board and head of spine. Jacket is unclipped with light edgewear. Item Price
NZ$25.82
River of Smoke: Ibis Trilogy Book 2
by Ghosh, Amitav
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- Used - Very Good
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- 2011-06-09
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London, London, GBR
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John Murray, 2011-06-09. Hardcover. Very Good. 4.7970 in x 23.5787 in x 15.5838 in. Item Price
NZ$13.90
River of Smoke: Ibis Trilogy Book 2
by Amitav Ghosh
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River of Smoke: Ibis Trilogy Book 2
by Amitav Ghosh
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River of Smoke: Ibis Trilogy Book 2
by Ghosh, Amitav
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GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
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Paperback. Very Good. Item Price
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River of Smoke
by Ghosh, Amitav, Ghosh, Amitav
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- Used - Good
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Dunfermline, Fife, GBR
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Hodder & Stoughton. Used - Good. Ships from the UK. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Item Price
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River of Smoke.
by GHOSH, AMITAV
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- First American Edition.
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- 2011
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Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, AUS
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NZ$38.60
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New York.: Farrar Straus & Giroux.. First American Edition.. 2011. 522pp, dustjacket, a very good hardback copy. . Item Price
NZ$38.60
River of Smoke: A Novel (The Ibis Trilogy, 2) (Signed)
by Ghosh, Amitav
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- Like New
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- First Edition
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- 2011-09-26
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780374174231
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Boonsboro, Maryland, USA
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NZ$75.81
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Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2011-09-26. First Edition. Hardcover. Like New. 7x4x0. Signed. Inscribed by Amitav Ghosh on title page. Hardcover and dust jacket. Good binding and cover. Light edge wear. Clean, unmarked pages. 522 pages ; 24 cm. *Autographed by author.* <br> Amid a cyclone in the Bay of Bengal, three vessels, and the diverse occupants within,… Read more about this item Item Price
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River of Smoke
by Ghosh, Amitav
- Condition
- Used - Fine
- Jacket Condition
- fine
- Edition
- First American Edition, 1st Printing
- Published
- 2011
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780374174231
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Neenah, Wisconsin, USA
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NZ$86.05
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New York: Farrar , Straus and Giroux, 2011. First American Edition, 1st Printing. Hardcover. Fine/fine. First American Edition, 1st Printing. Hardcover. Signed on title page. Second in Ibis Trilogy. Stated First American Edition with full number line. Item Price
NZ$86.05
River of smoke
by Ghosh, Amitav
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- Used
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 2011
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780719568985
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Galway, IRL
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NZ$103.26
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London : John Murray, 2011. First Edition. Hardcover. Fine cloth copy in an equally fine dust-wrapper. Particularly well-preserved overall; tight, bright, clean and especially sharp-cornered. Physical description: 522p. ; 24cm. Subjects: Slave labour -- Mauritius -- History -- 19th century -- Fiction. Item Price
NZ$103.26
River of Smoke
by GHOSH, Amitav (Calcutta 1956)
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- 2011
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- Brossura (wrappers)
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Valenzano, ITA
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John Murray, , 2011. Brossura (wrappers). Perfetto (Mint). . 8vo. pp. 522. Perfetto (Mint). Prima edizione (First Edition). Si aggiunge un secondo libro dell'Autore. Amitar Ghosh, Sea of Poppies. Murray, 2008 Item Price
NZ$69.67
River of Smoke
by Ghosh, Amitav
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- First Edition, First Printing
- Published
- 2011
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780719568985
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Didcot, Oxfordshire, GBR
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NZ$32.12
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London: John Murray (Publishers) Ltd., 2011. First edition, first printing hardcover with unclipped dust jacket, in very good condition. Jacket edges are a little creased, with a small nick at the upper edge of the rear inner flap fold. board spine ends are bumped, and spine is slightly cocked. Page block and page edges are lightly tanned. Pages are otherwise… Read more about this item Item Price
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River of Smoke: Book 2 of the Ibis Trilogy
by Ghosh, Amitav
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- Used - Good
- Published
- 2012
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780143053422
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Seattle, Washington, USA
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NZ$17.80
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Penguin Books Canada, 2012. Paperback. Good. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed. Item Price
NZ$17.80
River of smoke
by Ghosh, Amitav
- Condition
- Used - A bright, Fine copy in a Near Fine(+) DJ.
- Edition
- First American edition
- Published
- 2011
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780374174231
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- 1
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Oakland, California, USA
- Item Price
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NZ$70.56
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New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2011. First American edition. Hardcover. A bright, Fine copy in a Near Fine(+) DJ.. Octavo in unclipped sea-green DJ, 522 pages ; 24 cm. Schooners -- Fiction. || Amid a cyclone in the Bay of Bengal, three vessels, and the diverse occupants within, converge on Canton's Fanqui-Town, or Foreign Enclave, which is… Read more about this item Item Price
NZ$70.56
River Of Smoke
by Ghosh, Amitav
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Published
- 2012-05-10
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780719568893
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Devizes, Wiltshire, GBR
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NZ$8.54
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John Murray, 2012-05-10. Paperback. Very Good. 19 to 25 cm tall, Octavo, (8vo). Posted within 1 working day. 1st class tracked post to the UK, Airmail tracked worldwide. Robust recyclable packaging. Item Price
NZ$8.54
River of Smoke: Ibis Trilogy Book 2
by Ghosh, Amitav
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Published
- 2012-05-10
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780719568893
- Quantity Available
- 1
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Devizes, Wiltshire, GBR
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NZ$10.69
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John Murray, 2012-05-10. paperback. Good. 5x1x8. Posted within 1 working day. 1st class tracked post to the UK, Airmail tracked worldwide. Robust recyclable packaging. Item Price
NZ$10.69
River of Smoke: A Novel (The Ibis Trilogy)
by Ghosh, Amitav
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Jacket Condition
- Good
- Published
- 2011
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780374174231
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Maplewood, Missouri, USA
- Item Price
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NZ$30.98
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New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2011. Very good hardcover, good dust jacket. Some wear/chipping to jacket. Hardcover. Very Good/Good. Item Price
NZ$30.98