Overall

I think this book is better than Shōgun, both as a standalone, and as a member of a series. Clavell achieves everything which makes Shōgun enjoyable, and does so better with less.

Some of the cultural exposition which makes this series enjoyable is a bit more heavy handed (and repetitious) than it was in Shōgun. Sometimes the characterization of Chinese cultural comes across as condescending if not outright racist, and is usually at the very least well in the category of broad characterizations about how China behaves. I think this would be fine/expected for a low-dimensional, briefer story, but with so much story to be told yet, I don't know if the dialog exposition is necessary to speak so broadly about literally the most populous country, even if their ideology was pretty uniform at the time (which it wasn't, per the numerous internal divisions, with Manchu pirates, etc.). That being said, I don't think Clavell is wrong to include such discussions because they're for sure accurate for how the West viewed the East at the time (and likely vice versa too).

Additionally, it's not an entirely Anglo-centric viewpoint that he presents either. Similarly to the first book in the series, there's plenty of juxtaposition between the very different civilizations which motivate some pleasant existential questions about what constitutes a civilization given the age and technological prowess of China relative to their practices of torture and polygamy.

Book 1: 8

• Dirk Struan - the titular Tai-Pan (de facto supreme power or "big shot")
• Tyler Brock - Struan's rival, fellow Englishman

Struan and Brock being former shipmates, now grown hostile towards one anther. We learn that around the beginning of Jefferson's second term (1805), then-child Struan worked aboard one of the King's ships and eventually become a servant of the East India Company aboard a ship Brock, who was several years his senior, and regularly abused/bullied him (motivating Struan's vengeance towards Brock).

We're given a brief history of events from the turn of the century up to 1841, including Brock losing one of his eyes in a shipwreck, Struan finding getting his foot in the door with the illicit opium trade. They're eventually censured by Parliament, stripped of titles, lands, and trading licenses etc. and have to remake themselves independently again. Under the Chart Act of 1833, the BEI company loses its monopoly on trade with China, and Brock and Struan become merchant princes

Book one opens in 1841 with Struan, now Tai-Pan setting foot on Hong-Kong, having just won the first opium war with minimal bloodshed thanks to a cunning and swift invasion which threatened the Chinese capital of Peking a the time.

To this point, very few (like count on one hand 'few') Europeans have ever stepped foot within mainland China. It was known that China was the biggest, oldest, most populace power in the world, but very well was known about them on the whole. Chinese maintains their air of supremacy – viewing everyone else as barbarians (unclear of barbarian is just their "otherism" or if it's hardcore xenophobia, probably somewhere in between, since they're happy to trade, but are portrayed as viewing other cultures as inferior).

• Robb - Struan's younger half-brother. A recovering alcoholic (as much as one can be in the 19th century, solemn oath and all).
• Culum Struan - Struan's son by his English wife (deceased)
• Gordon Chen - Struan's other son by his Chinese Mistress
• May-may - Struan's Chinese mistress, Jin-qua's granddaughter
• Jin-qua - the lender
• Gorth Brock - what an unfortunate name for Brock's son. Culum's foil

Struan and Robb are able to go long on the opium market because the declaration of Hong Kong bans the trade, but Tai-Pan knows that the order will have to be backpedaled, and so while everyone is selling before the ban takes place, they'll stockpile. Robb toasts this cunning move with brandy, holding it in his mouth before spitting it out, tempting the devil.

Jefferson Cooper - American who works alongside/for the Noble House

Jefferson has a strained relationship with Struan because of the standing cultural rivalry between Britain and the Americas. He petitions Struan to go to parliament to agitate a reversal of the Trade Act granting England a monopoly on imports to England. He wants to be able to sell Opium/Tea/Silk, etc in England as well. This line of typical discussion between them converges on ethical squabbling which Jefferson typically loses because the States still trade in slaves, and Jefferson is partners with such folk.

Chapter 2 starts with a bank run, potentially started by Brock, which spoils Struan's plans to corner the opium market since he can no longer get lines of credit, and Brock happens to have bought up all his debts.

Brock visits Struan to goad over the ships which are soon to be his in a month's time when the Noble House's debts are called upon. They're simultaneously cordial over a meal while threatening each others' lives.

Be thee wanting to settle our score now? Lash against lash? Knife to knife? Now, by God! Or be thee still coward?

I told you once and I'll tell you a last time. One day I'll come after you with a lash – perhaps tonight, perhaps tomorrow, perhaps the next day. But, by God, one day I'll come after you. And I'll tell you another thing. If by chance you die before I'm ready, I'll go after Korth and Morgan and I'll wreck your company.

Struan sells his soul to Jin-qua in exchange for a shitton of silver to pay of Brock and still be the wealthiest trading company.

He makes the deal in secret and exfiltrates the bullion to safety with Brock hot on his heels.

Book 2: 8

In which: Culum becomes a man.

There's a hard ass scene in Chapter 9 where swears Robb and Culum the gamble he's made with Jin-qua, and the burden on either/both of their shoulders if/when they are to succeed him as Tai-Pan. It's some solid Western cowboy movie guy talk about what it means, both, to be a man, and to be the man.

This bullion is na very fair, Robb. I have to be sure. This is nae a game for children. And I'm na thinking of either of you as at this moment. We're playing with 100 years. 200 years. ... I'm committing the Noble house to Chinese with or without the both of you.

Book 3: 8

This third part sees the further development of Struan's cunning and wit, as he manages to pay off the debts owed to Brock with the very bullion that Brock was a hair away from pirating away from Struan in the first place.

Rumor of the gold piques the interest of Manchu pirates which immediately become Brock's problem. He's left with no choice other than to exchange the bullion back to the Noble House (and other merchants) for paper money (of no/lesser value than bullion) rather than move around like an HVT.

Book 4: 8

Hong Kong is settled, Culum challenges Struan's authority,

Gordon Chen is the goat – every scene with him is like watching an episode of Succession where the characters aren't boobs.

Book 5: 8.25

Culum is to marry Tess, and bury the hatchet between their families, despite the maintained ire between their fathers. Malaria (believed to be caused by gas from the ground) ruins the first settlement.

Struan remains wary of Gorth, who he believes is playing his son like a fiddle

May-may, who is pregnant, contract malaria for which there is no known antidote, except some rare root which the local mystic doctor doesn't have anymore of. Struan says he'll pay any price and the Dr. apologizes because he simply doesn't have anymore. Struan runs it through his network, as does Chen (who feeds it to the Triad), which in turn gets relayed to the anti-Triad folks who would love to ambush the Triad.

antidote is procured.

Struan (passively) encourages a rapid elopement between Culum and Tess, which flies in the face of Brock/Gort's wishes. Gort attacks Culum who escapes, and Struan challenges Gort to a duel. Before the duel, Gort is found dead – assassinated by Triad members in an alleyway.

Book 6: 7.5

A great typhoon sacks Hong Kong. Tillman is battered, Struan dies, and Culum picks up his father's mantle.

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