Sea of Poppies

by Amitav Ghosh

“Jesus Christ is Free Trade and Free Trade is Jesus Christ.” Truer words, I believe, were never spoken. If it is God’s will that opium be used as an instrument to open China to his teachings, then so be it. For

there was none that was its equal in the expression of the nuances of love, longing and separation – of the plight of those who leave and those who stay at home.