A Cruise in an Opium Clipper (Classic Reprint)


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Excerpt from A Cruise in an Opium Clipper The Opium trade, and there is the vessel, pointing towards a moderately sized, trim-looking schooner lying at anchor in the river not far from where we were standing. She looked a perfect beauty as she lay there, with her boarding nettings triced up all round her, and her guns run out and shining in the rays of the sun, so brightly were they polished. Her booms were also swung out for the various boats to hang on to, for there was more room in the river then, than there is now. I doubt much if the increased traffic would admit of vessels having boat booms swung out nowadays. I had heard a good deal about this opium trade, one way and another. Some condemned it, while others laughed at their conscientious scruples. I was young and eager for adventures out of the ordinary way of a seafaring life, so I replied to my questioner that I. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.




Opium


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Opium and its derivatives morphine and heroin have destroyed, corrupted, and killed individuals, families, communities, and even whole nations. And yet, for most of its long history, opium has also been humanity's most effective means of alleviating physical and mental pain. This extraordinary book encompasses the entire history of the world's most fascinating drug, from the first evidence of poppy cultivation by stone-age man to the present-day opium trade in Afghanistan. Dr. Thomas Dormandy tells the story with verve and insight, uncovering the strange power of opiates to motivate major conflicts yet also inspire great art and medical breakthroughs, to trigger the rise of global criminal networks yet also revolutionize attitudes toward well-being. Opium: Reality's Dark Dream traverses the globe and the centuries, exploring opium's role in colonialism, the Chinese Opium Wars, laudanum-inspired sublime Romantic poetry, American "Yellow Peril" fears, the rise of the Mafia and the black market, 1960s counterculture, and more. Dr. Dormandy also recounts exotic or sad stories of individual addiction. Throughout the book the author emphasizes opium's complex, valuable relationship with developments in medicine, health, and disease, highlighting the perplexing dual nature of the drug as both the cause and relief of great suffering in widely diverse civilizations.







The Book Buyer


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The Athenaeum


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Barons of the Sea


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“A fascinating, fast-paced history…full of remarkable characters and incredible stories” about the nineteenth-century American dynasties who battled for dominance of the tea and opium trades (Nathaniel Philbrick, National Book Award–winning author of In the Heart of the Sea). There was a time, back when the United States was young and the robber barons were just starting to come into their own, when fortunes were made and lost importing luxury goods from China. It was a secretive, glamorous, often brutal business—one where teas and silks and porcelain were purchased with profits from the opium trade. But the journey by sea to New York from Canton could take six agonizing months, and so the most pressing technological challenge of the day became ensuring one’s goods arrived first to market, so they might fetch the highest price. “With the verse of a natural dramatist” (The Christian Science Monitor), Steven Ujifusa tells the story of a handful of cutthroat competitors who raced to build the fastest, finest, most profitable clipper ships to carry their precious cargo to American shores. They were visionary, eccentric shipbuilders, debonair captains, and socially ambitious merchants with names like Forbes and Delano—men whose business interests took them from the cloistered confines of China’s expatriate communities to the sin city decadence of Gold Rush-era San Francisco, and from the teeming hubbub of East Boston’s shipyards and to the lavish sitting rooms of New York’s Hudson Valley estates. Elegantly written and meticulously researched, Barons of the Sea is a riveting tale of innovation and ingenuity that “takes the reader on a rare and intoxicating journey back in time” (Candice Millard, bestselling author of Hero of the Empire), drawing back the curtain on the making of some of the nation’s greatest fortunes, and the rise and fall of an all-American industry as sordid as it was genteel.







The Speaker


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Lamp ...


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The Cruise of the Frolic


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In 'The Cruise of the Frolic' by William Henry Giles Kingston, readers are taken on a thrilling journey filled with adventure, danger, and exploration on the high seas. Written in a vivid and engaging style, Kingston's novel is a prime example of 19th-century maritime literature, capturing the essence of life at sea during this time period. The narrative is rich in detail, providing readers with a realistic portrayal of the challenges faced by sailors and the excitement of discovering new lands. With its focus on the sea and seafaring, 'The Cruise of the Frolic' offers a unique perspective on the era of maritime exploration and trade. Kingston's descriptive prose brings the setting to life, immersing readers in the world of sailing ships and daring escapades. William Henry Giles Kingston, a British author and sailor, drew on his firsthand experiences at sea to write 'The Cruise of the Frolic.' His passion for maritime adventures shines through in the novel, as he skillfully weaves together a tale of courage and discovery. Kingston's expertise in naval affairs adds authenticity to the story, making it a captivating read for those interested in nautical history and adventure tales. I highly recommend 'The Cruise of the Frolic' to readers who enjoy classic maritime literature and tales of high-sea adventures. Kingston's masterful storytelling and attention to detail make this novel a must-read for anyone fascinated by the thrill of the open ocean and the bravery of sailors facing the unknown.




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