Listen free for 30 days

  • Tai-Pan

  • The Epic Novel of the Founding of Hong Kong: The Asian Saga, Book 2
  • Written by: James Clavell
  • Narrated by: Gildart Jackson
  • Length: 32 hrs and 11 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (183 ratings)

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Tai-Pan cover art

Tai-Pan

Written by: James Clavell
Narrated by: Gildart Jackson
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $30.25

Buy Now for $30.25

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

The sweeping epic novel of the founding of Hong Kong, by the #1 New York Times bestselling author and unparalleled master of historical fiction, James Clavell

“There can only be one Tai-Pan.”

Dirk Struan rose from humble beginnings to build Struan & Company, also known as the Noble House, into the world’s largest Far East trading company. He is now the Tai-Pan—Supreme Leader—of all Tai-Pans in China. Along the way, however, he made a powerful enemy. Tyler Brock, Struan’s rival from their early opium-smuggling days, also heads a large trading fleet, second in size only to Struan’s. But it is not only silks and spices that drive their mutual companies’ wealth—the opium trade is still booming. War between England and China might be over, but the hostilities remain. Struan and Brock come to control much of England’s trade with China yet neither can control their desires or their hatred of each other. Over the years, their two families will cross paths, threatening to rip both apart, with reverberations that will echo across the generations.

Struan must fight to save his company and his family, or risk seeing everything he has created destroyed at the hands of his sworn enemy. Ambition, political intrigue, and love and lust weave their way throughout the novel the New York Times called, “grand entertainment…packed with action…with blood and sin, treachery and conspiracy, sex and murder.” East and West come together in an opulent and intricately plotted narrative. A tour-de-force of historical fiction, rich in detail yet eminently readable, Tai-Pan will stay with you long after the final moment.

©1966 James Clavell (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

What listeners say about Tai-Pan

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    159
  • 4 Stars
    20
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    2
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    145
  • 4 Stars
    16
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    143
  • 4 Stars
    15
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story and insight

Narration was great and story phenomenal. Loved the historical background.
I am a fan of this author and hope to listen to others . Have read them but they are exciting in audio form

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

better ending than shogun

more characters required the title says it all. the word count is to small. by god

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very talented reader! Gifted. Amazing story.

It took me a few chapters to get into the story, but then I was hooked; action-packed. The performance was phenomenal. Different voices and accents for the characters but also really good voice acting. Well done, Gildart Jackson.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Terrific

This is the very best narration and story I have ever listened to. Gildart Jackson is fantastic. The multi layered characters and the narrator’s ability to switch dialects was astounding.
I highly recommend this book and will listen to it again, I am sure. Now I am starting Book 3 of this series with John Lee narrating. He is always good.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • HJP
  • 2018-09-19

A masterpiece by James Clavell

#Audible1
I remember reading Shogun by James Clavell and watching the mini-series. It was very good so I decided to listen to the second book in the series.
The narrator is excellent and the story doesn't disappoint. Good chance I will continue with the next book.
Well worth a credit.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

huge fan of clavell

I love this book. this saga in general. had trouble slogging through whirlwind but that's another story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Superb

A truly outstanding story. Every bit as good as Shogun, though I'd be hard pressed to choose which was my favourite.
This series of books by James Clavell is proving to be some of the most enjoyable reading/listening I've ever done. My only disappointment is that this book is over. Oh well, on to book 3, Gai Jin.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Incredible

My personal favourite book in the Asian Saga. One part classic coming of age story and one part high stakes family intrigue. Classic.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I thought Shogun was good, then I listened to Tai Pan...

BY God! What a fantastical novel. I rated Shogun in my top 10 novels ever but truthfully I think Tai Pan is better. I almost can't compare the 2 and the only reason I am is because they were both written by Clavell. Tai Pan's character development is amazing. The story is just phenomenal, I almost have no words for it. The narration is amazing, I was upset at first it wasn't Lister (who narrated Shogun) but by God I think he did a better job as well! I'm almost upset he doesn't narrate Noble House and it goes back to Lister. The way this narrator does all the accents is out of this world. Also when he does a female voice he just softens his, he doesn't try to put on and sound like a woman which I hate when narrators do that. If you're looking to get into the Asian Saga and have read Shogun.. or haven't as they're not connected in any way. I highly recommend this book. Might even be in my top 5 ever.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Worthy followup to Shogun

Very well written novel, the start of the fantastic Noble House series. The narrator isn't as great as Ralph Lister, who does many other Asian Saga books, but not bad.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!