'Sea of Poppies' is Amitav Ghosh's opening novel in a trilogy instigated whilst researching for his doctorate at Oxford. A collection of letters between Jewish traders sparked the idea for this rather heavily descriptive historical novel. Set in the 1830's, it depicts a new Indian culture dependant on British Colonialism.
Set upon the ship 'Ibis', an eclectic plethora of characters from vastly different backgrounds are thrust together as they are exposed to the brutal Opium trade. From dinner parties to floggings, kidnap and rape, they witness the negative effects of colonialism firsthand. It seems a farfetched plotline teeming with incidents. However, due to the depth of his research Ghosh manages to tie it all together, keeping the characters entwined with the story in a neat and manageable way.
The story is filled with all of the misgivings of human nature but focuses mainly on greed and the destruction of whole cultures and generations of people caused by it. Though the theme can be construed as a familiar choice the human devastation caused by British Colonialism, the poignant and skilful, if at times indubitably random way that the story is told is refreshing, and leaves the reader curious to follow the congenial characters onto the next stage of their eventful journey.