White Poppy: A Novel of the Opium Wars

by Margaret Gaan

After the Chinese legalize opium, the English open a vast market of smuggling that is opposed by the Chinese millionaire Yinkwa and the Englishman Charlie, the Red Barbarian, in a plan that ends with the last Chinese dynasty

256 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1989

About the author

Her family background is part-Chinese and part-European. 1914-1998

Reviews

[Stef Rozitis · Rating 3 out of 5]

A vivid, well researched (seemingly) historical novel of the opium trade and British colonialism in China. At times it showed the complexity and problems of colonialisation but it focused too much on males exclusively (only right at the end are we given a female character's POV or does it get near passing the Bechdel test- not quite even then). Chinese culture is somewhat exoticised and there are shades of "white saviour" complex in the roles of Jin-see's father as well as Donald.

Julie to me was the most complex and interesting character but I was surprised that after she was so completely constructed she tended to disappear into the background so much. The tone of the book was tragic. I don't like the inevitability of tragedy given that seems to be the spirit of the times now (speaking as a 2019 reader).

As I read the book, I did not get a sense that it was a sequel but having a Google, it appears that is was and that the first one was also a tragedy. I think I will leave any more of these for those who like that sort of thing...

[Louis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historically this novel is very interesting and from a quick web search appears to be pretty accurate.
I only scored it 3* because I felt that the story was a bit disjointed and for once I would have liked a longer book with more fictional story, as chapters regularly jumped many years to the key events, but lost some of the character development.
Worth a read if you are interested in the opium trade and its effects.