Sea of Poppies

Set prior to the First Opium War, the novel follows a diverse group of characters whose lives intersect on the Ibis, a ship that was once a slave vessel and is now refitted to transport indentured laborers from India to Mauritius.

The story delves into themes of colonialism, the opium trade, class divisions, and personal transformation.

It features characters such as Deeti, a widowed poppy farmer; Zachary Reid, a mixed-race American sailor; Neel Rattan Halder, a deposed raja; and Paulette, the orphaned daughter of a French botanist.

Ghosh's rich and descriptive prose brings to life the intricate details of the settings and the complex lives of the characters.