Rating: 
Summary: Clavell's best work
Review: Despite being overshdowed by it's suposedly better books in the Asian Saga, Tai-Pan is the best novel Clavell wrote. Having read all of the series more then once I can truly say that Tai-Pan is far better then Noble House and even Shogun. It's Clavell's shortest book(except King Rat) but still has all the magnificient plot lines. Dirk Struan is the Perfect Hero. He is not perfect but his power is felt even by the reader. Despite sevrel reviews that said that Clavell shouldn't have written in pidgin this from gives credabilty to the novel. The ending is Clavell's best, it is the perfect soultion and the book ends still in a climax. Tai-Pan is captiviting from the start and the 732 pages flow by as if they were just a few. I give this book 10 stars out of 5. A MUST READ
Rating:
Summary: A delicious and enthralling novel
Review: Tai-Pan is another beautifully written novel by James Clavell. His characters come alive in this intricate novel. The reader follows the witnesses of the beginning of Hong Kong. His accuracy in Chinese culture is amazing and makes the book an even better read. The characters are beautifully conjured and moving. The plot is suspenseful and breathtaking. The storyline takes us through the beginning of Hong Kong and deep into the heartaches and troubles of life in a developing colony. Tai-Pan is a gripping novel and I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: This Book Worth a Look
Review: Unlike many of the previous reviewers, I have no particular connection to Asia or an extensive knowledge of Chinese history, rather I am merely a fan of exciting stories and great writing and if the novel is full of interesting facts, then all the better. Tai-Pan fits the bill. It is an engaging story about the European community in China just after the British have taken control of Hong Kong. It centers on Dirk Struan, a manipulative, shrewd, and charismatic man who happens to be the most powerful trader in Asia. There is intrigue, violence, romance and tragedy, but this all adds flavor to the epic story of how the British controlled their first stronghold in Asia. Clavell does an amazing job of creating realistic characters and incorporaring facts about the time period and his knowledege of the culture. Despite being a fictional account of this era, I learned a great deal about China, British trade and sailing in the 1800's. I would recommend this book to everyone who enjoys historical fiction or just great writing and good stories. Further, this book is at least as good as Shogun and is a critical component of the Asia Saga, so it is a must read for people who enjoy Clavell's other books.
Rating: 
Summary: Clavell provides another brilliant read
Review: As a Eurasian (english-chinese, no less) born and raised in Hong Kong, I was brimming with anticipation when I bought Tai-Pan (especially as I had already read the even more brilliant Noble House-- see its reviews! that book is an easy 5 stars).
Anyway, Tai-Pan is amazing in many ways and flawed in others. Clavell really captures a lot of the underlying tension, stereotypes, and often unfortunately true feelings of the british towards chinese culture (and vice-versa). Clavell tries very hard to present a fair view of the era and culture of the time, even so far as to really truly develop a genuine and believable love story between the Tai-Pan and his Chinese mistress (I think he MUST have had experience himself to understand the chinese female psyche so well!).
Anyway, besides certain comments that I did not like (that seemed to put down the chinese and especially 'half-caste' eurasians), the book is eminently readable and cannot be put down until finished!
Nevertheless, Noble House is even better-- but read it second!
Rating:
Summary: Well done!
Review: Being in China at the time made James Clavell Tai-Pan even more special than the book by itself already is. It was no coincidence that I bought the book while being in Shanghai. I already read the book in a destant past. And I could clearly remember that I thought it was great. And it still is. Tai-Pan tells the story of a man called Dirk Struan who is the owner of a big trading house called Noble House. The setting is Hong Kong 1841. The island has just come under British rule and everything is not yet well. China is at that time still a big mystery for Europe and the different world powers of that time strife to conquer it. It's a bit the same as our present time in fact. The book is truly a masterpiece. I can really recommend it to anyone who like this kind of book. The good news is that the other books by James Clavell are as good as this one. The only one I havent read is Whirlwind because that doesn't especially appeals to me. It's also the only one which isn't set in the far East. Anyways if you haven't read any of his work yet, start reading!
Rating:
Summary: Magnificent Kick-Off to Clavell's Asian Saga
Review: James Clavell began his Asian Saga with "Tai-Pan," and in doing so brought the Far East to life in an unparalleled fashion. "Tai-Pan" tells the story of Dirk Struan, Tai-Pan ("Supreme Leader") of Struan's, more popularly known as the Noble House. First in everything (money, influence, panache, daring, etc.), the Noble House has tied its future to the rise of Hong Kong, which is "founded" in the book's first chapter. Struan, who has founded the Noble House with the vast fortune he built as an opium smuggler along the Chinese coast (many of the trading houses in "Tai Pan" owe their fortunes to opium smuggling, although they euphemistically refer to themselves as "China Traders"), has used his influence in Britain and with certain Chinese figures to take Hong Kong for the British crown as a toehold in China. Guided by his near-mystical vision of the importance of China to the world's future (at this point, China is considered by many Europeans to be a profitless wasteland populated by "heathens"), Struan will fight and kill to defend Hong Kong. Newly widowed, Struan is comforted by his Chinese lover, May-May, who is also one of Clavell's most wonderful characters. Teetering on the verge of a stereotypical "dragon lady," May-May is a woman of courage, cunning, refinement, humor, and great beauty. Clavell lets May-May speak in both English (hilarious malaprops abound) and in Chinese so the reader gets a true picture of May-May's intelligence. Prejudices being what they were, Struan is forced to keep May-May under wraps, as it were, although the legend of the Tai Pan's Chinese mistress abound. In addition to the loss of his family, Struan must contend with Tyler Brock, his one-eyed nemesis and leader of the second most powerful trading house, Brock and Sons. Brock and Struan have a deep-seeded hatred that is doomed to head for a reckoning. Brock, constantly maneuvering to best the Noble House, has quite a few tricks up his sleeve, and he forces Struan to make a dangerous gamble with the future of the Noble House. In the novel's most intriguing sub-plot, Struan can ensure his financial status only if he accepts four half-coins from his Chinese mentor, Jin-Qua. Anyone who presents the other half-coin to the tai pan can have one favor granted -- no matter what it is. A chilling bargain, and one that flows through Clavell's future novels (Noble House). Through it all, Clavell goes to great lengths to capture the clash of cultures on Hong Kong -- from the British, American, Chinese, and Eurasian perspectives. The sheer scope of man's prejudice is staggering! As pervasive as the racial conflicts may be, ulterior motives also abound. Virtually every character in the novel has a wide range of goals, ambitions, and plots they are trying to weave, and Clavell handles this vast plot with great skill. Struan, clearly the dominant character of the novel, does not quite reach superhero status, which shows proper restraint by Clavell. Struan is forced to cope with Culum, his resentful, conflicted, naive son, as well as his brother, Robb, and of course May-May. Struan struggles mightily, but he demonstrates that even the Tai-Pan is all too human. All in all, a wonderful tale of the founding of one of the world's great cities, Hong Kong, and an expert treatment of the clash of cultures between East and West. A must read!
Rating:
Summary: If 'A MUST READ' ever applies, it's to this book!
Review: I'm an avid reader, have been my whole life, and I'm in love with Asia. At first, this book starts off rather slowley, giving you the low-down on basic history and building the massive amount of charectors. Clavell has always had a knack for using hundreds of charectors, each of whom you recognize imediately. About half way through Tai-Pan I was gripping my seat. Clavell has managed to stay true to history yet weave a beautiful, romantic, and heroic story around facts (as is his talent!) Truely a must read for historians, Asian enthusists and anyone who enjoys reading!
Rating:
Summary: The Asia Saga moves to Hong Kong
Review: Clavell's Asia Saga is a masterpiece of historical fiction. In this edition, Clavell captures the creation of a great trading house amidst several themes common to the series:
- Characters with histories spanning multiple books
- Western pioneers meet Eastern tradition
- Intrigue at every turn
- History and cultural lessons when you least expect them. Standalone, the book is fantastic. As part of the series, it is a treasure. Deep. Longlasting. For those impatient with the heft of the book (It carried me through several coast to coast flights), there is the video, but you'll lose quite a bit in the translation to film.
Rating:
Summary: Clavell at his best
Review: Just doesn't get better than this. I'd say it ranks right up with Shogun. The entire book is filled with everything you could ask for in a book (intrigue, suspense, action, intellect, love) and the ending is priceless. On reading the last paragraph, I threw my head back, laughed, then cried. Absolutely amazing work.
Rating:
Summary: A "GODROTTING" GOOD READ!
Review: Tai-Pan is James Clavell's second published novel and is loosely based on the history of Jardine Matheson. This is my favorite in Clavell's "Asian Saga." The setting is Hong Kong in 1841. The British have just secured the island from the Chinese following the Treaty of Cheupi and Dirk Struan, Tai-Pan (supreme leader) of the Noble House, has staked his life and his company's future there. Struan and the other China traders smuggle opium into China to trade for bullion used to buy tea for England. Together, they've made vast fortunes, but no one more than Struan himself--the Noble House is the most powerful company in the Far East. Struan's struggle to maintain his dominance over his chief rival, Tyler Brock, and the other traders provides plenty of thrilling action. This is an exciting novel of piracy, politics, conspiracy, love and loathing. A multi-plotted tale that'll keep you turning pages--you won't be able to put this book down! And what's more, the story isn't resolved until the very last page...the last sentence, in fact.
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