Ibis Trilogy by Amitav Ghosh - 3 Books Collection Set - Historical Fiction - Paperback

Titles in This Set
Sea of Poppies
River of Smoke
Flood of Fire

Details
Condition: Brand New
Format: Paperback
Publisher: John Murray

Overview
The Ibis Trilogy gathers Amitav Ghosh's celebrated saga of empire, migration, and the opium trade into one complete paperback collection. Across Sea of Poppies, River of Smoke, and Flood of Fire, a sprawling cast of sailors, convicts, traders, and dreamers is swept from the poppy fields of the Ganges to the harbors of Canton and the battlefields of the First Opium War. Ghosh's meticulously researched storytelling blends adventure, romance, and history into a richly textured world. Sea of Poppies was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, cementing the trilogy's literary reputation. This set is a rewarding gift for historical fiction readers and book clubs alike.

About the Books
Set in the decades surrounding the First Opium War, the Ibis Trilogy traces how the global opium trade reshaped lives across continents. It begins aboard the Ibis, a former slave ship refitted to carry indentured laborers and convicts from Calcutta toward Mauritius, where a widow, a raja, a sailor, and a mixed-race American freedman find their fates entangled. The story then widens to Canton, where foreign merchants, translators, and botanists navigate the tense final months before war breaks out, and finally to the conflict itself, as old friendships and rivalries are tested by cannon fire and shifting empires. Ghosh writes with an ear for period dialect and a keen eye for the textures of nineteenth-century seafaring and trade, moving fluidly between English, Bengali, Cantonese, and Lascar pidgin. The trilogy is admired for its historical depth and its portrait of ordinary people caught in the machinery of empire. Sea of Poppies, the opening volume, was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, and each subsequent book expands the canvas while circling back to characters readers already know. Together, the three novels form a continuous narrative rather than standalone stories, rewarding readers who move through them in order. This paperback collection brings the complete arc together in one purchase, ideal for readers who want Ghosh's vision of nineteenth-century globalization from start to finish.

Key Benefits

• Complete three-book paperback collection in original reading order
• Sweeping, meticulously researched historical fiction spanning India, China, and the Indian Ocean
• Includes Sea of Poppies, a Booker Prize-shortlisted novel
• Rich, multi-generational cast that develops across all three books
• Perfect gift for historical fiction readers, book clubs, and literary fiction fans
• Compact paperback format, easy to read, travel with, or display on a shelf

Book-by-Book Guide
Sea of Poppies — Introduces the ship Ibis and a cast of Indian and Western characters thrown together on the eve of the Opium Wars, in a novel that was shortlisted for the Booker Prize.
River of Smoke — Shifts the action to Canton in 1838, following traders and travelers as the opium trade pushes China and Britain toward open conflict.
Flood of Fire — Closes the trilogy with the outbreak of the First Opium War, bringing the saga's threads together amid battle and upheaval.

About the Author
Amitav Ghosh is an acclaimed Indian author known for historical and literary fiction that spans continents and centuries. Born in Calcutta, he has written novels including The Shadow Lines, The Glass Palace, and The Hungry Tide, alongside works of nonfiction. His novel Sea of Poppies, the first installment of the Ibis Trilogy, was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, and his fiction is widely praised for its historical research and richly drawn characters. Ghosh's writing frequently explores migration, colonialism, and the human cost of global trade, earning him a devoted international readership and numerous literary honors over a decades-long career.

Why You'll Love This Collection
This is historical fiction on a grand scale, ideal for readers who love losing themselves in a saga. It's a thoughtful gift for a book-loving friend, a holiday season present, or a rewarding addition to any home library or book club reading list this year.

Please Note: This is the UK edition with the ISBN as listed; the cover may vary slightly from the image shown.