White Poppy

In this second volume of a planned trilogy (after Red Barbarian), valiant men strive to abolish the legalized opium trade in China. During the mid19th century, British traders such as venal Andrew Carradine depend on China as a market for Indian opium. But his nephew and associate, Donald, is repulsed when he observes the drug's pernicious effects on Hong Kong's citizens. Jin-see, the adopted son of Andrew's partner Yin-kwa, shares Donald's concern. Yin-kwa and Jinsee's late father Charlie were opium traders, but the reformed Yin-kwa charges Jinsee and his descendants with the ""life-duty'' of eradicating the drug from China. Since that process can be expedited by limiting foreign business interests, Jin-see and Donald form a company designed to encourage China's commercial development. Numerous crises hamper Jin-see's covert attempts to impede the importation of Indian opium, however. Gaan eloquently describes this period of China's chaotic history, and the novel builds to a suspenseful, dramatic conclusion. Foreign rights: Paul R. Reynolds. November