It describes the British occupation of Hong Kong in 1841 and an empire built upon opium smuggling. Tai-Pan is a 1966 novel written by James Clavell about European and American traders who move into Hong Kong in 1842 following the end of the First Opium War. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. A fat, gusty, commercial historical novel that will most probably sweep the bookstore windows on the strength of its narrative, Tai-Pan is a much better book than Clavell's first, King Rat. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Tai-pan at Amazon.com. I could say a lot more but please read the book you will not be sorry. Tai-Pan means supreme power and seadog Dirk Struan's Noble House is the … Having begun with King Rat, I proceeded to work my way through most of James Clavell's Asian Saga before running out of steam - and interest - with the overly-long and rather lacklustre Whirlwind; and of them all, Tai-Pan was my favorite. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Tai-Pan (Asian Saga) at Amazon.com. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for James Clavell's Tai-Pan at Amazon.com. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. James Clavell was on top of his game when he penned this story of the founding of Hong Kong and of his great character Dirk Struan, pirate, seaman , opium smuggler and empire builder. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users.