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Summary: A Great and Informative Read! Clavell is the Master!
Review: I can not begin to tell you how much I enjoyed this book. There is so much to this book. A great story, great characters, great dialogue, history, culture I could go on for ages.Basically, if you are interested in a historical novel, Asia, China, Hong Kong, the Sea, action, romance, this book has it all. Shogun and Tai Pan are two of the best books I have ever read.
Rating:
Summary: You have to read it to believe it...
Review: Do not be discouraged by the book's seemingly overwhelming thickness. The pages will melt away down to the last word thanks to the riveting story and the realistic, enjoyable characters. Clavell has successfullly combined two things that I have never seen woven together so skillfully: grand setting and intricate story. The book takes place in newly acquired British Hong Kong, the Age of Sail is at its glorious peak, and the nations of Earth are converging on China with hopes of garnering a profit from one of the most isolated governments in the world. The story involves a prolific cast of characters, each one distinctly colorful with his or her own unique flavor and mannerisms. Clavell carefully chronicles subtle interactions between the characters, allowing the reader to feel very personally involved in the story. I expected many dull moments in book. Usually when authors try to combine big settings with detailed characters and events, the story gets either 1) stuck in endless details and minutae or 2) so generalized and impersonal that you might receive greater stimulation from Cliff Notes. This, however, was never the case in Tai-Pan. Every word and sentence and dialogue in the book is necessary and tantalizing. Each detail either develops a character or moves the plot or paints the setting. There's no "filler", in other words. A novel of this scope that is wholly riveting and "fat-free" is a true gem. This was my first Clavell, and I look forward to some more of his work. Tai-Pan is an experience for the mind and the imagination.
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Summary: Another classic in the Asian saga
Review: Tai-pan is a truly memorable novel and had me immersed from page one. Set in nineteenth century Hong-Kong, Tai-Pan captures the atmosphere as if you are there yourself, enveloped in a hierarchical world of conspiracy, mistrust, antagonism and insubordination. Featured around the very amiable Tai-Pan himself, Dirk Struan, is an epic storyline of 'The Noble House', the largest and most powerful China Trading company in Asia, and the problems that come with such supreme power. Tai-Pan not only offers a thrilling, fast moving storyline with profound and bold characters, but an interesting look into the historical context of Asia, ranging from culture and religion to the way Asians interpret Europeans. The novel is full of historical references and is a must for anyone interested in historical fiction. However it has to be said, I think this novel would be appealing to anyone who enjoys reading. An admirable edition to the Asian saga.
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Summary: What a good book
Review: Tai-Pan was one of the most amazing and exciting books I have ever read. Starting out at the ceremony commemorating Britain taking over Hong Kong it moves over the period of colonization with the land sale and the movement because of malaria epidemic. Filled with action and interesting talkie style description it is a hard book to put down. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys Tom Clancy or Clive Cussler as an imaginative historical epic of the best kind.
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Summary: As authentic as you can get
Review: Tai-Pan is engrossing. James Clavell has a marvellous Asian touch that is very realistic. The whole story is so beautifully crafted that you think Clavell witnessed all the events himself. The flow and the scale of the story are top-class. You also learn that the Europeans were horribly filthy those days, both cultures (Chinese and European) thought the other to be barbaric and many more little things. The ending is totally unexpected, really disastrous and hair-raising. A real jewel of fiction!!
Rating:
Summary: A worthy successor to his successful Shogun
Review: James Clavell continues in the tradition of Shogun to deliver a wide ranging epic set in 19th century China. Set in exotic, imperial China, this book is full of action, intrigue and adventure as we follow the exciting quest of Dirk Struan, a larger life English trader, as he drives forward to establish the British in Hong Kong and himself as the chief ruler - Tai pan. A tale of intrigue, conspiracy and murder, with a touch of sex thrown in - the plot is fast paced and engaging. The characters are bold and colorful and, most importantly, have considerable time to develop and flesh out during course of this lengthy tale. I am not an expert in Chinese or English history so I can not vouch for the authenticity of Clavell's details but the book is full of historical tidbits about customs and attitudes of both the colonial English and the Imperial Chinese. The rich and detailed narrative really helps the book "come alive" and further involve the reader. Overall, this book is an engrossing read.
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Summary: Wonderful story telling
Review: Wow. As soon as you have finished reading this book you will want to begin reading it again... it's that good. It is a wonderful tale of British settlement in Hong Kong and how they interacted with the Chinese. The character development in this book is exceptional. You begin to feel as if you know everything about them. I can not recommend this book highly enough. It's a definate classic.
Rating:
Summary: Better then Shogun
Review: Tai-pan is a historical fictional novel. It takes the reader back in time when Englishmen first were coming to China. A "Tai-pan" was a leader. Like leaders in all places and times, those who would be leaders here have more risks and rewards, then the common man. This is the story of one such leader, a very uncommon man, a trader who son has suddenly come to him from England. As such, while he is struggling with his competion, and the Chinese, he is also struggling with his willful son. The story, by itself, is well written and very interesting. For me, what made it fascinating, was the detail about the culture and times, in which, it occurred. For example, we learn that Chinesse women liked to paint their teeth black - to be sexy. They also brushed their teeth, with tea. Strange as it sounds, it was better then the English, who did not brush at all and usually lost them all by age 30. Where does Clavell get these facts? I don't know if everything he wrote, as such, is true. But, based on the way it was written, it certainly seems to be the case. These details, which flow from this book, add to its charm and made the read one of the more enjoyable experiences I have had in years.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: I never thought even Clavell himself could come close to matching Shogun, but he did. This book was great from cover to cover and now ranks #2 on my list of all-time favorites. I can't do the book justice by trying to describe it here. Read it! Disregard the poor review by Gigounas below...he can't even spell the main character's name correctly!
Rating: 
Summary: Great Charecters, repeating plot...
Review: After reading Shogun,I though there would be no way it could compare. I was wrong. Tai-Pan is a wonderful book, and I'm continuously amazed at how deep the charecters go, and how clever the Tai-Pan continues to be. It differs from Shogun in a couple of ways: There is more focus on the charecter than on the plot of the story, which tends to become almost predictable after a while. In Shogun you are reading about a man who has to do everything possible just to survive, but in Tai-Pan you are reading about a man who is already very rich and powerful, and he just wants to stay that way.
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