Smoke and Ashes

Amitav Ghosh’s “Smoke and Ashes” is the kind of eye-opening nonfiction read that makes one feel like their perception of the world has been permanently altered by the time they reach the final pages. Although I’ve been well aware of the opium trade in China thanks to many a historical read, that I’ve read on the topic, plus a sizable amount of historical fiction work like Ghosh’s fantastic “Ibis” trilogy, only now do I feel like I have any real sense of the scope of its impact, whose influences continue to be felt to this very day all around the world, and that’s literally no exaggeration. In thorough detail, Ghosh reveals still-reverberating effects that stretch from India all the way to my own native New England, where one can’t throw a rock without hitting some institution or at least a street sign named for some powerful mercantile family whose fantastic fortunes originated in the opium trade.

Not content with systematically tying all of those threads from past to and present together through the abundant backing of quality historical and modern day sources, Ghosh goes on to reveal the impact that the poppy and the modern-day opiate market continues to have on the present. Although he gives some mention to the illegal markets, his attention is overwhelmingly focused on players in the licit market who continue the tradition of using opioids to create absurd profits while denying their own involvement in wrecking obvious and well-documented havoc upon the public good. To say the least, the similarities he sees between the British East India Company and the Sackler family is not at all insignificant, not to mention ample fodder for contemplation.

The only aspect of this book that concerns me a little is the manner in which Ghosh refers to specific characters in his own aforementioned “Ibis” series. However, the trilogy is not a prerequisite by any major means, and the author always makes sure to provide context. This is a mere quibble at most, however. And honestly on second thought, my largest problem with the book was the disappointment I felt when I finished it after several days being fully absorbed and happily devouring all the new information and perspective that it had to impart. To say the least, this is a very hearty recommendation from me. It’s the kind of book that feels like an amazing college course that’s packed within a few hundred pages delivered in a writing style that manages a terrific balance between educational, accessible, and quite sharp with its commentary. For those fans of excellent non-fiction reads Ghosh’s latest is definitely not a book that they’ll want to miss.