Tai-Pan by James Clavell

This was Clavell's second book, after the semi-autobiographical King Rat and the second chronologically in his Asian Sequence after Shõgun. It's set in 1841 and deals with the events around the founding of Hong Kong as a British Colony, with the principle character being Dirk Struan - the head of trading house who has made his fortune in opium smuggling and is now looking to become the pre-eminent power in the far east as Tai-Pan, or supreme ruler, of the Noble House. 

As the novel opens he is faced with possible financial ruin and fierce competition from rival traders as well as threats from the Chinese powers, both the official rulers and pirate factions. Against this background, Hong Kong is established on a small rocky island, beset with malaria and other hazards but with the advantage of the best natural harbour in the region. Struan must fight to survive and also manage the succession for the Noble House - who will become Tai-Pan after him?

While this is generally an enjoyable read, it's fair to say that some parts have aged particularly badly. There are a lot of stereotypical characterisations - the British naval officers are all stuck up English gentlemen, Struan's main rival talks like a West Country Pirate, but most egregiously all of the Chinese characters are inscrutable to a tee and talk in a transliterated pidgin English to the Europeans. This may be historically accurate, but it grates very rapidly and comes across as borderline racist in places. I would have much preferred it if Struan could have just learnt Chinese and this aspect of the story handled with a bit more sensitivity. 

The plot drags a little in places with an extended sub plot about a malaria outbreak in the nascent colony, but the conclusion rattles along and leaves some plot strands open to be resolved in the following books.