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Noble House




  • 002 4  Ian Dunross , in a driving torrential rain , arrives at the Struan Building in Hong Kong . There he meets with Alastair Struan , the current tai pan ( ultimate ruler ) of the Noble House . At this meeting Struan confers the title of tai pan on Dunross and he must take an oath to uphold the traditions and oaths established by the first tai pan and founder of the Noble House , Dirk Struan , one of the first and certainly the mightiest of the China Traders from the early 19th century . At this meeting Dunross discovers that a ship containing a disproportionate amount of the Noble House's uninsured wealth has gone down imperiling the House's future . The book then jumps forward three years , to August of 1963 , and the Noble House's financial predicament has grown , if anything , worse . Linc Bartlett , an American billionaire , and his ambitious and stunningly beautiful protégé , K . C . Tcholok arrive in Hong Kong aboard his private Boeing 707 ( remember this is 1963 ) . They are in Hong Kong to establish a presence in the lucrative Oriental markets and to make a deal with the Noble House or one of its competitors . Hidden in the wheel-well of the jet are rifles , ammunition , and grenades which are strictly prohibited in Hong Kong . Their origin as well as their purpose is revealed to us gradually as we come to know the protagonist and current tai-pan , Ian Dunross and the multitude of complex problems that he must contend with . We discover early on that there is a Judas Iscariot in the Noble House , the comprador Phillip Chen's son , John Chen , who is inexplicably kidnapped . Bartlett is playing the Noble House against it's arch-enemy and biggest competitor , Rothwell-Gornt run by Quillan Gornt , a descendant of Tyler Brock who is the arch-enemy of the first tai-pan , Dirk Struan . Gornt is using his former mistress , Orlanda Ramos , to spy on Bartlett and to manipulate him into a favorable disposition toward his company . Ian Dunross has a highly secret source of intelligence named Alan Medford Grant from a London Strategic Planning Institute and one of his reports to the tai-pan is intercepted by Roger Crosse of Hong Kong Special Intelligence . Shortly afterwards Grant turns up dead in England as a result of foul play . The information in Grant's reports are yet another important element in the complex tale crafted by Clavell . We learn from the report that the Noble House has a Russian mole within and that there is a mole high up in the Hong Kong government . Nearly every rivalry and association has its roots in the past dating back to at least the original China traders of the early 19th century . Clavell does a marvelous job of integrating the past and the present drawing on his knowledge not only of China and the Orient , but of high finance with repeated references to Sun Tzu's Art of War . Even some of the characters from Clavell's marvelous King Rat make an appearance . The King himself does not appear and is only alluded to , but Robin Grey , as a labor MP and Socialist sympathizer , and Peter Marlowe , a writer and thinly disguised James Clavell himself do appear . Clavell is an astute observer of human nature enabling him to craft an amazingly complex and engaging tale tying together a multitude of disparate elements in a believable manner that is too often overlooked in todays half-baked novels . This book is long at over 1300 pages but well worth the effort . I would recommend reading Clavell's Tai Pan first , if possible , but this is not mandatory . I first read this book on a vacation to Harbor Island in 1981 and was so utterly absorbed by the book that I ignored many of my social responsibilities . I've just completed reading the book again at age 54 and have actually enjoyed it MORE than the first time I read it . I cannot recommend this book highly enough .
    • 001 4  Clavell was perhaps the greatest Western writer of Asian historical fiction . In this epic novel he captures the spirit of the Western trading companies as they maneuver in British Hong Kong . We find out what has happened to the house and lineage first created in Taipan , and how the trials and tribulations have been passed from generation to generation . This book captures many of the strengths of the entire series : - Characters are portrayed as complex individuals , not just one dimensional drones - There's tons of history and cultural lessons hidden between the story lines - Character lines are carried cross-book in the series Definitely a solid ( if not short ) read !
    • 003 4  This book makes a leap of one century from Clavell's _ Gai-jin _ , and presents an interesting look at the culture and economy of Hong Kong . I cannot say how accurate it is except in one respect : passion for gambling . Having worked for years with natives of Hong Kong I believe Clavell has captured this aspect well . What Clavell does best with _ Noble House _ is to maintain a high suspense level . Every character in the book could die ; one must wait a long time to find out how it's going to turn out . Most of the characters are interesting enough . Just the shenanigans involved with the Hong Kong economy would make this a worthwhile read .
    • 004 4  Noble House is undoubtedly Clavell's greatest work . Although Tai-pan , Shogun and King Rat are excellent books in their own right , Noble House keeps the reader enthralled to the last page . Tai-pan makes good reading in itself and serves as a prequel to Noble House . However , it is not necessary to read Tai-pan before Noble House . I did not but I still found this work exciting . The plots - CIA versus KGB versus PRC Intelligence versus MI - 5 / MI - 6 , Gornt versus Dunross versus Bartlett , Orlanda versus Casey and a variety of characters ( other than those already mentioned ) , makes the 1400 plus pages light work - it is truly a classic by an author with deep insights in the culture and international relations of Hong Kong and its neighbours and trading partners . The boardroom drama is intense and Clavell leaves the reader guessing who will emerge winner until the end . I recommend this book to anyone .
    • 006 4  It's 1963 . Hong Kong business conglomerate Noble House teeters on its foundations , dangerously close to collapse . With enemies and fair-weather friends on all sides vying for a chunk of the fallout rubble , Ian Dunross Struan , tai-pan of the Noble House , must somehow wheel and deal his way into at least twenty million dollars to pay off his debts and save his inheritance . But the tai-pan's struggle is just the surface layer of story , for in _ Noble House _ James Clavelle weaves an incredible amount of subplots and historical tangents into a seamless whole-a massive tome that should give the consistent reader many hours of entertainment . Included in this week and a half of Hong Kong history : cold war espionage , bank failures and hostile takeovers , stock market fluctuations , drug smuggling , kidnapping , murder , high-price concubines and the men that desperately seek to please them , horse racing with enormous sums on the line , and the ever-present threat of a sudden typhoon or earthquake to interrupt everyone's fun and put things in perspective . _ Noble House _ is structured in the typical novel format , being a slow , steady rise of tension and the continual addition of complications , always building the conflict and potential consequences , until release : climax and conclusion . Keeping the reader interested in both plot and characters over 350 + thousand words shows great skill on the part of the author . But what impressed me most about _ Noble House _ were Clavelle's insights into the human condition : the fallible , fragile nature of both interpersonal and professional relationships ; the overpowering lure of greed and lust ; the strong contrasts in eastern and western thought processes . Besides the ( literally ) enormous entertainment found herein , the cultural and socio-political information in itself makes _ Noble House _ a worthy read . Interestingly , Claville predicts the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union by detailing the basic flaw in their world policy : spending vast amounts of borrowed capital on military and subversive activities while the infrastructure of the country crumbled away thanks in no small part to poor maintenance and the stifling of innovation . Given that this book was written in 1981 , during one of the peaks of the so-called cold war , Clavelle's hints and insinuations resonate with a twenty-first-century hindsight . Recommended .
    • 007 4  Noble House is a book that captures the essence of Hong Kong as the adventurers in all of us imagine it : a hot bed of passion , murder , and intrigue . Clavell was a pioneer in fiction about old Asia , and arguably , this is the best example of his work . I found this book to be extreemly satifying and the conclusion of the book left me a bit sad ; I didn't want the tale to end ! Noble house is THAT kind of book . The characters all seems extremely vivid and capture the imagination , especially the Taipan of the Noble House , a role that Pierce Brosnan performs beautifully in the movie performance of this classic . Recent novels which have attempted to describe Hong Kong and its people have been mediocre at best ; many books simply are so far removed from the truth as to be laughable . Yet even here in Asia , Clavell and Noble House have captured a following which attestes to its authenticity and flavour . I can say nothing more than to ask you to read this epic novel and share the enjoyment that many ahve already experienced .
    • 008 4  Noble House is , quite simply , one of the five most enjoyable books I've ever read , and re-read , and re-read , and . . . you get the picture . Clavell has taken the wonderful foundation of Tai-Pan and Shogun and added new levels of depth and complexity . At the beginning of the novel , young Ian Dunross assumes the mantle of Tai-Pan of the Noble House of Struan during a dark and stormy night and a dark and stormy period for the Noble House . The company's holdings are stretched to the limit , and that very night it loses a shipment of valuable contraband at sea . Dunross , heir to the title of Tai-Pan , or supreme leader , is also the kindred spirit to the company's founder , Dirk Struan , the legendary pirate , smuggler , and founder of the Noble House and Hong Kong . Dunross has also inherited the enduring hatred of the family's historical enemies , the Brocks , now personified in Quillan Gornt , head of the Second House . Gornt , a worthy adversary , has his own designs to topple Struan's and take over as the Noble House . But so does everybody else in the novel , it seems , unless the characters are interested in international espionage involving the Soviet Union , Communist China , the United States , or good old England . Triple agents , royalty , thieves , kidnappers , murderers , gangsters , and businessmen rub shoulders in this tempest in the teapot of Hong Kong . The key variables in this play are two Americans on a business trip , who hold the key to finiancial success in Hong Kong . Linc Bartlett is CEO , and his right-hand man is the beautiful woman , K.C . Tcholok . The Americans ' ignorance of Hong Kong customs reflects the reader's , and injects a considerable amount of humor into the novel . But , as with Clavell's first novel ( Tai-Pan ) , the center of attention remains the tai-pan . Ian Dunross is the personification of what is good in the British Empire , even though he is as ruthless as they come . He guides the Noble House through a minefield without a map , using his business acumen , guts , and joss to see him through . A climactic ending to an epic story of love , business , and war is immensely satisfying , and leaves you begging for more ( just like Tai-Pan , Shogun , and King Rat did before ) . A must-read !
    • 009 4  Like all of Clavell's books since 1980 , I bought Noble House the moment I knew it was available . Unfortunately , that was during a week of law school finals . Although I finished the thousand pages in a few days , my grades turned out to be a full level below all my other semesters . That's how spellbinding Noble House is . This book is certainly top rate in terms of plot , suspense and characters in its own right , but what bound me to it during all my spare time was the interrelationship with the characters from Clavell's previous Hong Kong novel , Tai Pan and , to a lesser extent , King Rat . The same was true later with Whirlwind and Gai Jin , neither of which gathered a speck of dust in the bookstore before I bought it . Even today , I mourn over the fact that Clavell didn't live long enough to write another 2 or 3 books in his series . I have never read any other author who leaves so many questions unanswered and so many critical issues unresolved , but does so in a way that feeds the curiosity so strongly rather than disappointing . It is a tribute to Clavell's monumental skill as a storyteller that this is a strength of his novels rather than a major irritant to his readers . Very few of those readers stopped at one Clavell novel and , as far as I know , almost everyone who has read one goes on to read all the rest . Unlike so many of today's authors , he writes about heroes who aren't made of cardboard and who hold genuine mystery no matter how closely they are observed .
    • 010 4  Many years back I happened upon the book ' Taipan ' in a used bookstore in Berkeley . Little did I know then that I was about to embarc upon a fictional journey that would span the centuries as well as generations . ' Noble House ' the somewhat sequel to Taipan is set in Hong Kong of the sixties and where the battle between the Straun and Brock families continue to wage not their sabres and cutlasses but clout and money in a ceaseless endeavor to dominate , or even demolish one another . Clavell a master storyteller in this and his other epics , but here he plays upon classic battle between families and offers an expose ' into the world of the Orient , and those who would venture into this realm of mystique and beauty . Bottomline : Read Taipan before Noble House . . . Or you'll be completely lost
    • 013 4  This is quite simply the best story I've ever read . Yes , it's insanely long and expansive , but it's well worth the time and effort it will take to read it . I first read it in 1992 while I was travelling - I was looking for a good long book to help me cover empty hours on trains and buses . I ended up finishing it in a week , so riveting it was that putting it down was not an option . At first you may find yourself confused because of all the characters and intersecting story-lines , but that confusion quickly abates and you'll find yourself immersed in a world of political intrigue , big business , clashing cultures , love and loss , espionage , natural disasters , and one of the most compelling main characters you'll ever meet . And it all takes place in the span of one week ! ! ! Like I said , I first read this book in 1992 , and I've probably read it fifteen times since and enjoyed it just as much every single time . Clavell's ' Asian Saga ' is monumental in scope and each book is a masterpiece , but this is the pinnacle of them all . You don't have to read the other books in the saga to enjoy Noble House , but you'll find yourself compelled to read the others once you're done with it and you won't be disappointed with any of them .
    • 014 4  Author James Clavell wrote six epic novels that he referred to as The Asian Saga consisting of Shogun , Tai-Pan , Gai-Jin , King Rat , Noble House , and Whirlwind . Each book , while not always directly interrelated , has overlapping characters and themes that build upon one another while exploring the experiences of Europeans in Asia . While King Rat is often referred to as Clavell's strongest work , ( Whirlwind his weakest ) its dark setting of a Japanese POW camp during the Second World War is often too unsettling for many readers . Noble House allows a reader the option of seeing just how engrossing Clavell can be as a writer while not having to deal with the biting nature of humanity's dark side as portrayed in King Rat . Set in Hong Kong during the early 1960 ' s , Noble House's plot evolves around the wheeling and dealing of modern day Tai-pans or Big Bosses of large , wealthy corporations . Clavell balances his hero , Ian Dunross , against an equally imposing counter-hero , Quillan Gornt , creating a clash between two corporate-titans that is exciting , interesting , and at times very witty . At over 1370 pages , Noble House is not a quick read , but if you are interested in reading only one of Clavell's books , Noble House should be your choice .
    • 016 4  One of my 10 favorite books of all time . Better than Shogun . Great plot , well developed characters - I couldn't put the book down ! Simply awesome work . Clavell's best and that says much !
    • 017 4  This review is from : Noble House ( Paperback ) Noble House is the end of the story of James Clavell's Asian Saga . Having started the history of the Struans in Tai-Pan , set in 1840 ' s Hong Kong , Noble House wraps it up in 1960 ' s Hong Kong . If you haven't read any Clavell I recommend you start with Tai-Pan . Much of what Clavell's fans expect from him is here : danger , romance , passion , wealth , mystery , high stakes and exotic Asia as the background . Yum . However , I give Noble House only 4 stars for three reasons . ( 1 ) Noble House is very different from the others in the Asian Saga because of its modern elements . A major storyline involves the KGB and international espionage , which feels more like Ludlum or LeCarre than typical Clavell . This part is well handled but not really the core of what one is looking for from Clavell . ( 2 ) The business storyline is more complicated than in previous works because the tools of business had become much more complex ( stock exchanges , international bonds ) between 1840 and 1960 . This may get a little too involved and detailed for some ( and I am a businessman with a law degree ! ) . ( 3 ) Most importantly , Noble House was not quite as fun for me as the others because it had less historical importance . Gai-Jin , Shogun and Tai Pan depict historically important events . In particular , Dirk Struan in Tai Pan is changing history . Unfortunately , by 1960 Struan's , even if it is still called the Noble House , is not nearly as significant and is more of a family company trying to make a buck . There are still traditions and mysteries associated with the company , sure , but at the end of the day it is one company among many in the world . Wal-Mart could buy them a million times over and barely notice . They're struggling over single digit millions of dollars . That's a far cry from founding Hong Kong . So that was my main problem with Noble House . While the story was fun , like the previous works , it didn't quite have the historical heft of its predecessors . I still give it 4 stars .
    • 018 4  Noble House is the end of the story of James Clavell's Asian Saga . Having started the history of the Struans in Tai-Pan , set in 1840 ' s Hong Kong , Noble House wraps it up in 1960 ' s Hong Kong . If you haven't read any Clavell I recommend you start with Tai-Pan . Much of what Clavell's fans expect from him is here : danger , romance , passion , wealth , mystery , high stakes and exotic Asia as the background . Yum . However , I give Noble House only 4 stars for three reasons . ( 1 ) Noble House is very different from the others in the Asian Saga because of its modern elements . A major storyline involves the KGB and international espionage , which feels more like Ludlum or LeCarre than typical Clavell . This part is well handled but not really the core of what one is looking for from Clavell . ( 2 ) The business storyline is more complicated than in previous works because the tools of business had become much more complex ( stock exchanges , international bonds ) between 1840 and 1960 . This may get a little too involved and detailed for some ( and I am a businessman with a law degree ! ) . ( 3 ) Most importantly , Noble House was not quite as fun for me as the others because it had less historical importance . Gai-Jin , Shogun and Tai Pan depict historically important events . In particular , Dirk Struan in Tai Pan is changing history . Unfortunately , by 1960 Struan's , even if it is still called the Noble House , is not nearly as significant and is more of a family company trying to make a buck . There are still traditions and mysteries associated with the company , sure , but at the end of the day it is one company among many in the world . Wal-Mart could buy them a million times over and barely notice . They're struggling over single digit millions of dollars . That's a far cry from founding Hong Kong . So that was my main problem with Noble House . While the story was fun , like the previous works , it didn't quite have the historical heft of its predecessors . I still give it 4 stars .
    • 019 4  This book is a gripping as other Clavell books . However , I hope his sources of information on Chinese stuff were better than on Russians . Some Russian names and factoids are downright ridiculous . For example , he clearly can't tell Kazakhs , Mongol-related people from Central Asia , from Cossacks , militaristic communities of Russian origin living in Southern Russia and Ukraine . Too bad he couldn't find a Russian person to help out , I would have enjoyed the book immensely if not for this nagging doubt whether the whole book would sound similarly ridiculous to a Chinese person .
    • 020 4  As always , Clavell puts together a wonderful labyrinth of subplots that keep this capitalist / communist / opportunist thriller moving all 1370 pages . If you loved Tai-Pan , you'll enjoy Noble House . Clavell was fond of Ayn Rand's philosophy , so it was interesting to see him portray those ideals through some of the characters - - curious how laissez-faire would sometimes need to hold hands with the bamboo / iron curtain .
    • 021 4  This review is from : Noble House ( Mass Market Paperback ) I intended to read this book a long time before I did . I've always been fascinated by the slippery world of the market players . It's a lot more fun reading about it than being on the other end of it , and I have done both . A covertly ambitious businessman and his female assistant arrive in China with secret designs on wresting financial power from the existing controller of Hong Kong business , Ian Dunross , who's company ( s ) of Struan's holds the title to Noble House , a Chinese term for Biggest Guy I guess . ( it's a boys club - no girls allowed ) Dunross has maintained a tenuous hold on the title by sheer strength of his wits because he is developing financial problems , which he is trying to keep under wraps while he stabilizes his game plan , plagued by all sorts of intrigue and undermovements , made noteable by one of his arch enemies and rivals in business , who has inside information and sees this as his golden opportunity to move in for the kill . There are many other sub-plots tying all of it together , and the Chinese names are difficult to maintain a grip on . I found myself going back every now and then just to keep track of them . But that , too , was part of the storyline puzzle , since the police were having the same difficulty . The story is extremely well written , showing the seamy side of floating Chinese culture existing comfortably beside high rises and billionaires ; with politics of the Viet Nam era driving everything . The high-stakes players were openly hostile to one another , laying their gargantuan egos on the table along with the challenge to one another , in a winner-take-all - except the American played by a third set of rules which is all that should be divulged by a review , leaving the ending to the winds . It was everything I wanted in a read of the subject .
    • 022 4  I intended to read this book a long time before I did . I've always been fascinated by the slippery world of the market players . It's a lot more fun reading about it than being on the other end of it , and I have done both . A covertly ambitious businessman and his female assistant arrive in China with secret designs on wresting financial power from the existing controller of Hong Kong business , Ian Dunross , who's company ( s ) of Struan's holds the title to Noble House , a Chinese term for Biggest Guy I guess . ( it's a boys club - no girls allowed ) Dunross has maintained a tenuous hold on the title by sheer strength of his wits because he is developing financial problems , which he is trying to keep under wraps while he stabilizes his game plan , plagued by all sorts of intrigue and undermovements , made noteable by one of his arch enemies and rivals in business , who has inside information and sees this as his golden opportunity to move in for the kill . There are many other sub-plots tying all of it together , and the Chinese names are difficult to maintain a grip on . I found myself going back every now and then just to keep track of them . But that , too , was part of the storyline puzzle , since the police were having the same difficulty . The story is extremely well written , showing the seamy side of floating Chinese culture existing comfortably beside high rises and billionaires ; with politics of the Viet Nam era driving everything . The high-stakes players were openly hostile to one another , laying their gargantuan egos on the table along with the challenge to one another , in a winner-take-all - except the American played by a third set of rules which is all that should be divulged by a review , leaving the ending to the winds . It was everything I wanted in a read of the subject .
    • 023 4  This was the first James Clavell book I had read , and now I am eager to read all of the others . In a word , Noble House is amazing . In its breadth and scope it is unsurpassed by any novel I have ever read . It is gripping from the Prologue where you introduced to the main character , Ian Dunross to the awe-inspiring conclusion . The characters are all well-formed , and you feel like you know them intimately . Their faults and good qualities are all known by the reader . Don't be discouraged by the book's weight and length . It will fly by . Even though the book weighs a pound , it is very hard to put down . This is a book that makes me want to tell anyone who can read that they should read this book .
    • 024 4  I read Noble House many years ago . I still haven't found a match to this book . Never have I been so spellbound by a story . Clavell's other books are also good , but this one should have had an extra sixth star .
    • 025 4  In this book Clavell truly surpasses himself and writes a story equivalent to that of his earlier work , Shogun . The plot is riveting and exciting , and completely unique . Overall , it's a fantastic read that shows an extrodinary perception of the fast-paced world of Hong Kong and the effects the intrusion of Europeans has had on it .
    • 026 4  The book Noble House is an absolutely entrancing roller-coaster ride of a adventure ! It is an account based on the famous trading house giant Jardine Matheson and Co . of Hong Kong which was founded in the early 19th century by William Jardine ( the Dirk Struan of Clavell's Tai-Pan ) . This book is absolutely a stunning tour-de-force of knowledge of the Bysantine complexities of Hong Kong's social and political intrigue - where long memories trigger hatreds and alliances that are invisible to those ignorant of custom and hisotry . This novel absolutely gripped me . It has provided me with THOUSANDS of dollars of entertainment for a few pennies per hour ! Read the first few pages , and you will be hooked ! it is that good .
    • 027 4  I must have been reading Noble House for about 4 months . The book is huge . When I brought the book to the pool at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Las Vegas , I had people tell me that is was the biggest book they had ever seen in there lives . One guy mentioned that the book was longer than the dictionary . Which is true . Someone else asked me how you remember characters and events in a book that is so long . And that is the beauty of this book and its writer James Clavell . Despite being over 1300 pages , Noble House will hold your interest the entire time . You will not want it to end . The characters in this book are so great , you will be sad when the book is finally over . The book is about Hong Kong in 1963 , it is also a sequal to Tai-Pan and in a way a sequal to King Rat . It makes references to Shogun as well . The book is also a history of the cold war , and of Hong Kong and China in the early 1960 ' s . That is one of Clavell's greatest gifts , the historical background he brings to his Asia saga . This is no quick read , but its a great read and full of great stuff about China and Chinese culture .
    • 028 4  This is Clavell's last book of his epic series . I am glad that I read Tai-Pan ( thanks to another customer review's suggestion ) , so that I was able to follow the characters and historic development of Noble House . Noble House is much better than Tai-Pan and is definitely an easier read . Noble House has a pretty good plot . I found the Russia , world-domination plot a little underdeveloped and could have been wiped out entirely out of the equation , thus , saving a couple hundred pages of this lengthy 1200 + epic novel . The main characters are exciting to follow : Ian Dunross , Casey , Bartlett , Quillan Gornt , 4 Fingers Wu . Some are developed enough to recognize throughout the novel : Peter Marlowe , Brian Kwok , Philip and John Chen , Suslev . And some could have been left out : Haply , Inspector Smyth , Havergill , etc . A pretty decent read , but very , very long . This could have been shortened and still be a powerful novel - even more so . It makes sense to read these in order because of continuing saga's . I took the shortcut and only read Tai-Pan and Noble House and this was enough to follow the storyline .
    • 030 4  James Clavell didn't disappoint me . The story is exciting , you never know what comes next . The ending is great , unlike Tai Pan's abrupt conclusion . I agree with one of the reviews : one doesn't need to read Tai Pan before in order to understand Noble House . However , there are some side stories that are brought in Noble House whose comprehension requires previous reading of Shogun , Tai Pan and King Rat . Besides , I enjoyed seeing how the characters of those books ( or their descendants ) get to know each other in Noble House .
    • 031 4  This review is from : Noble House ( Paperback ) Still reading Noble House and I have to say it is a fantastic novel . I've read all of Clavell's Asian Saga , and this is one of the best along with Shogun and Tai Pan . The book is physically much larger than I thought it was going to be ( physical size of the pages , not the number of pages ) , but this hasn't turned out to be an issue . I was taken aback at first as I thought that the size would end up being a pain , but for a book this long it is actually quite nice . Clavell has a way of inserting his characters into your head - I find myself saying thinking so and so wouldn't like that as I go about my normal day , even when I'm not reading the book . His writing style , plus the fact that he isn't afraid of taking the time to weave his story makes this book a memorably enjoyable read . This book takes place in the early 1960 ' s and weaves in several characters from his other prior Asian Saga novels . While the read would be enjoyable as it is , it is really a sequel ( most directly ) to Tai Pan and I would not recommend reading Nobel House without having gone through Tai Pan first . Lucky you ! : ) Both books are ones that you feel sorry to have finished because now they are over . Highly recommended , as long as you don't mind the 1200 pages - I happen to like that , because you get to savor the story . . .
    • 032 4  Still reading Noble House and I have to say it is a fantastic novel . I've read all of Clavell's Asian Saga , and this is one of the best along with Shogun and Tai Pan . The book is physically much larger than I thought it was going to be ( physical size of the pages , not the number of pages ) , but this hasn't turned out to be an issue . I was taken aback at first as I thought that the size would end up being a pain , but for a book this long it is actually quite nice . Clavell has a way of inserting his characters into your head - I find myself saying thinking so and so wouldn't like that as I go about my normal day , even when I'm not reading the book . His writing style , plus the fact that he isn't afraid of taking the time to weave his story makes this book a memorably enjoyable read . This book takes place in the early 1960 ' s and weaves in several characters from his other prior Asian Saga novels . While the read would be enjoyable as it is , it is really a sequel ( most directly ) to Tai Pan and I would not recommend reading Nobel House without having gone through Tai Pan first . Lucky you ! : ) Both books are ones that you feel sorry to have finished because now they are over . Highly recommended , as long as you don't mind the 1200 pages - I happen to like that , because you get to savor the story . . .
    • 033 4  This is a long book , but then it is just part of Clavell's running story , and really fits in with well with Tai-Pan . This is a lot more up to date , as it is set in the early nineteen-sixties . I love how the author has the orientals characterize the Americans and English ( loud , rude , obnoxious , etc ) . There is several threads of rommance that run through the book , all the while it is mainly a spy story . You have to stretch a little bit to think this is a believable story , but just kick back and enjoy the different cultural flavor the book brings . The fact that Hong Kong was a British Territory helped me believe some of the improbable legal and financial situations that developed . All in all a long enjoyable book .
    • 034 4  This is a long but very enjoyable story . It captures the plots and dangers of business and finance in Hong Kong in a way that makes it so the story never gets boring . Clavell has a knack for historical fiction and insight into Asian culture that few if any western authors seem to . Clavell's personal experiences as a prisoner of war in world war II form the basis for King Rat and perhaps help explain his fascination with Japan and Hong Kong . Shogun met with great success despite it also being a rather long novel and Noble House builds on this story several generations later with the same vibrant and multidimensional character development that makes this book a great read as well .
    • 035 4  this novel definitely stands out among other novels.the plots and subplots are just facinating.the author sews it all up together into one massive book nicely . the characters are believable with complete human attitude and personality ( not those kind of one dimensional characters you get in other novels ) . my favourite character has to be Ian Dunross who is played by Pierce Brosnan in the tv series ( handpicked by James clavell himnself ! ) . his character is what a leader needs become : unnerved in pulsating circumstances , full of confidence and can be witty whenever necessary . one thing that keeps me wondering though as stated in the book is the chinese habit of spitting to get rid of the bad joss.do they still do that nowadays ? i dont know.i have to ask my chinese friends whether thats true ! anyone who wants to dive into the superb world of the noble house will come out wanting more.james clavell's a genius in what he does . . . just sad he's not here to produce more . . . 10stars ! !
    • 036 4  Set 120 years after the events of Tai-Pan , Ian Dunross is the latest in Dirk Struan's line to head Struan's , also known as the Noble House . To survive , Struan's always skates the financial edge , and Quillan Gornt , descendant of Dirk's enemy , Tyler Brock , is quite happy to push it over the edge . Even though we meet many fine characters , from American businesswoman Casey Tcholok to smuggler's son Paul Choy , Hong Kong itself is really the star of this novel . Seeming almost anarchic at times , the colony ( as it then was , the novel is set in 1963 ) and its people , Chinese and British , seem to worship one god , Money . Clavell ties in references to his other novels - - characters from King Rat show up and relive their wartime hatred , many of the characters discuss and live out the heritage of Tai-Pan , and a Japanese character mentions briefly the events of Shogun . This is the sort of book that will keep you up reading until 4 a.m . What I didn't like : I found the character of Peter Marlowe most annoying . He shows up all the time , acts like a know it all , and is really Clavell's way of writing himself into the book . Also , about six different times , it is mentioned that the U.S . is starting to get involved in Vietnam , and each time , a precient character chirps ( or at least thinks ) that the U.S . will regret it . Hindsight is 20 / 20 , the novel was published in 1981 . A good read .
    • 037 4  Noble House is a mammoth of a book . It's not a single story , it is a dozen plots and subplots magically weaved into one colossal tale . As with the other books by Clavell , this beauty is mind-catching , with great , unpredictable , HUMAN characters and , as always , a brilliant ending . This is a book that you'll be sorry to finish - - you'll want to keep on reading it forever . Great epic Asian feel , great detail , great pace , great everything . This book is 100% greatness . Be warned , though , read Tai-Pan first , or things might be a bit complicated for you .
    • 039 4  Noble House is one of those rare books that gets really under your skin . The setting , plot , and characterization are written so colorfully it's as if the reader is in Hong Kong watching the novel unfold . Noble House is an ancient British-owned ( actually Scottish ) Asian trading company based in Hong Kong . The novel captures how difficult it is for such a company to stay on top . The Noble House has to protect itself from hostile takeovers , foreign powers via the KGB , CIA , and MI - 6 , and internal strife to name a few such difficulties . I consider myself to be an above average reader ; the 1370 pages of Noble House flew by in a three day weekend . If you like historical novels , this is a book for you .
    • 041 4  This is the first novel I've read of his . What a wonderful surprise.He is a gifted story teller , who can write a novel with many subplots at one time and the plot still stays together and progresses smoothly . I can't wait to read another novel of his .
    • 042 4  Probably the best book I have ever read . Surpasses even the legendary Shogun . Clavell's work is riveting . Couldn't put it down . Worth every minute , a must read .
    • 045 4  What can I say ? The book says it all.Really . I mean if anyone has read Kane and Abel , when they were young this is a worthy book to graduate to.As most of the other reviewers so say , I just did not want the story to end.It was that good . It is a book that will satisfy anyone , and i really mean anyone . James Clavell is a master of fiction .
    • 046 4  If you liked Shogun , you'll love Noble House . I couldn't put it down . One of my favorite books of all time .
    • 047 4  I am busy reading this book for the second time and I love it . It got me to writing Tai-Pan , King Rat , and Gai-Jin ( uh ! ! ) . I liked the other two . Casey is a wonderful character and the drama between her , Gornt , and Dunross is good too . You must read this book .
    • 048 4  This novel will grab you in the first five pages like no other I have read . Although some of the subplots become a bit Byzantine , you hold your breath through the twists and turns of a crisis where the firm fights a corporate takeover , kidnapping , murder , and love affairs . The novel Nobel House is all the more interesting because it is based on a fictional version of the trading giant Jardine Matheson : a company which was founded by the colorful opium smuggler / Taipan William Jardine in the 1830 ' s and 40 ' s in Canton and later Hong Kong ( he was called the Iron Headed Old Rat by the Chinese ) . Jardine's decendents persently control this company which employs over 200,000 people around the world .
    • 049 4  Gripping story that prompted me to start reading Taipan , King Rat , Shogun . . . Highly recommended !
    • 051 4  This is a worthy sequel to Tai Pan , with excellent continuity ( the coins , come to mind ) and plenty of action , intrigue and asian exotica . The only areas where I thought it was weak was in the intricacy of the financial details ( I am no CPA ) and the very poor tie in to Shogun with the Japanese reporter .
    • 052 4  This installment of James Clavell's Asian series is by far my favorite . The characters , the interweaving plotlines and the drama of the book are all intricately played out . It is a pity that Clavell never got to finisht he series and ended on what I consider the suppar Whirlwind .
    • 055 4  i'm only 16 , and i loved this book . i've read all of Mr . Clavell's asian saga novels except whirlwind ( i can't find any in stock ) . it's not good as Tai-pan or Shogun , but it's still one of the best book i've read . if you read this you'll have a very hard time letting go because of all the interesting stuff that happens from previous books like the four coins , Struan's and Dunross ' , and the pirates of Lotus . one thing i was dissapointed was that i had a hard time understanding the stock dealings they went through .
    • 056 4  James Clavell was an excellent writer . . . I'm always glad to read ( and re-read ) his material . Just finished Noble House . The way the author ties , weaves and overlaps centuries of stories and people and families is simply astounding . Highly recommended !
    • 057 4  I believe that to many are trying to compare this book to shogun when obviously it has been a progression of the story line . I think that history is magical in the sense that it's hard to comprehend . That is what makes shogun so much of a good read . Now , as we progress through the story line . . . we . . . as the reader . . . start to associate and therefore , lose that magic . Like the Disney ride . . . It's all about imagination
    • 058 4  Start with Shogun by Clavell and work up to Gai-Jin , Noble House , King Rat and the rest of the Asian saga . They are tremendous and educational
    • 059 4  An all time great read . I loved it ! I am already planning on reading it a 3rd time . Noble House and Shogun are tied for the top spot in my personal list of top ten books I have read in my life . Just buy it and read it , you will enjoy it !
    • 060 4  Excellent story - Well written characters . I particularly enjoyed the mannerly byplay between the English and Chinese characters vs the blunt and straightforward Americans . Good read .
    • 062 4  I really enjoyed it . A classic that will definately go on my list of all-time favorite books .
    • 063 4  This has to be one of my top 5 best reads to date . James Clavell manages to tear you away from present day life by offering you a detailed look at the remarkable history of Hong Kong and the colonisation of the uninhabitable rock off China . Guranteed to have you calling in to work sick , you will not be able to put this down with more action than you can handle as well as amazing facts that you probably never knew . Noble House follows James Clavell's Thai Pan which I strongly recommend you read before hand , also 5 stars .
    • 064 4  Noble House is a really good novel - - I was never bored during its almost 1400 pages . However , it didn't rivet me like Tai-Pan or King Rat did . In fact , the story starts fairly slowly , and the ending is very anticlimatic . ( Clavell seems to have a penchant for writing disappointing endings . The ending to Shogun was SUCH a letdowm ! ) Read this novel if you've finished Tai-Pan and King Rat already . But if you haven't , those two novels are much better .
    • 065 4  I've read the whole Asian Saga , and this is Clavell's finest masterpiece . I read Noble House twice as an undergrad . Now , taking a break from law school , I'm reading it for a third time and I'm enjoying it like it was the first time . Dunross is just the character that I like . . . the one who pulls the strings . Noble House is the best way to get a peek at the incredible and exotic Asian world .
    • 066 4  I enjoyed Noble House . Mostly . However , I am not as enthusiastic about it as the other reviewers , especially when comparing Noble House to Shogun . In my humble opinion , Shogun ( another of Clavell's marathon-length novels ) is far more enjoyable to Noble House . An explanation about my tastes in books below may illuminate for you why I feel this way . There are three things that make a novel appealing to me : 1 ) interesting uses of the English language ; 2 ) plots built around complex relationships , especially romantic ones ; and 3 ) books that inspire or move me . Incidentally , when I write an interesting use of the English language above , I do NOT mean flowery or intellectual language . Rather , I mean I prefer authors who can paint common scenes with common words in uncommon or unique ways . Some of my favorite books , both fiction and nonfiction , include The Beautiful and Damned by F . Scott Fitzgerald , The Class by Erich Segal , Ishmael by Daniel Quinn , The Rainmaker by John Grisham , Walden by H.D . Thoreau and Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer . On the flip side , genres that I typically DISLIKE include trashy romance , fantasy , science fiction and spy / military thrillers . Some very popular authors whose books I don't enjoy include Tom Clancy , Danielle Steele and Stephen King . Because of my personal tastes , I loved Noble House for its character relationships ( Dunross v . Gornt , American v . European v . Chinese means of doing business , Casey v . Linc , Dunross , Gornt , et al ) . However , I equally DISLIKED it for its endlessly painful details about the Russian KGB , double-agents , kidnapping , etc . ) . Since the book had both , I found myself lapping up some chapters yet wanting to skip others entirely . This was frustrating to me because I needed some of the information in the spy chapters to keep the plot flowing seamlessly , yet I dreaded sifting through them to find the facts I needed . This is the reason I cannot sing unfettered praises for Noble House . It's worth reading , but I would personally put it off until you've read Shogun first . Gai-Jin is the next Clavell novel on my plate . I'll let you know how it goes .
    • 067 4  Clavell's novels have a great way of continuing at the end . Life goes on . But in Noble House Clavell simply introduces too many segues . The last 200 pages or so of the book seemed rushed , and the book simply ends with too many loose ends . A little frustrating after 1370 pages .
    • 068 4  welcome to Dirk Struan's Island . welcome to espionage , intrigue , cut-throat ambition , war and love and business , and one big old motherfornicator of an earthquake to top it all off . welcome to the towering rain-soaked skyscrapers and the devil-sea whipped shores of Hong Kong . welcome to a half a week without food , water , or sleep enthralled in this mesmerizing epic from a master of his art .
    • 069 4  This is a real page turner , and that's really saying something considering that this book is hella long . Clavel is a real student Hong Kong high society , and it is fascinating to watch the Anglo Ian Dunross navigate his way through the Asian way , the mini series of this book is exceptional , I saw it as a kid , and I remember how much I wanted to be Pierce Brosnan , nobody could have inbodied Dunross like Brosnan . If you enjoy a good read and love learning about a different culture then you will love this book , but be forewarned , is is LONG , and be sure to pick up the mini series it is a wonderful compliment to the book .
    • 070 4  Noble House is possibly the best book in Clavells series and that says allot since Shogun & Taipan are two of the better books of all time . Run don't walk , get this book . The characters are top line , the story is stunning and the details are pronominal
    • 071 4  The Noble House is by far one of the best of Clavell's works ! I got so caught up in the drama between Quillan Gornt and Ian Dunross that I couldn't put the book down . I didn't want it to ever end , and when it did I was very very very upset ! ! I enjoyed the book so much that I found out I wanted to learn more about the characters . I learned about the stock market and bank counsels , etc . I loved this book and I recommend it to everyone and anyone ! ! It's the kind of book that once you start reading it , you'll never ever ever want to put down . If you're looking for a book with drama , passion , intenseness , murder , mystery , and thrill , you should read The Noble House . It's a wonderful tie in of all of Clavell's books and I simply loved it !
    • 072 4  This review is from : Noble House ( Mass Market Paperback ) The characters in this book are just so real . This book , like the others , isn't packed with incredible action and suspense but it's an amazing story all the same and a very enjoyable read .
    • 073 4  The characters in this book are just so real . This book , like the others , isn't packed with incredible action and suspense but it's an amazing story all the same and a very enjoyable read .
    • 074 4  It was bought as a gift for someone . They really enjoyed the book .
    • 075 4  Set in Hong Kong during the 1960 ' s , the plot of Noble House concerns the business and political dealings of all of the most important and wealthy people on the island . Along with Tai-Pan , I would rate this as the best book of Clavell . Although at times he goes into too much detail on some topics , such as finance , this is generally a thrilling book , with some genuinely exciting plot twists . I would recommend this book to anybody who enjoys long , sweeping epics .
    • 076 4  This was a book I just couldn't put down . After reading the previous James Clavell books in the series I just loved this one as well .
    • 077 4  I'm a big fan of Shogun ( 4 1 / 2 stars ) and Tai-Pan ( 4 stars ) and expected much of the same here . But after 450 pages I gave up . Plot , subplot , sub-subplot , sub-sub-subplot , scores of characters . I got tired of starting another chapter with a new plot angle , when I was ready for development and resolution of what came before . This book picks up with the Straun / Brock rivalry from Tai-Pan after an interval of 120 years . I wanted that history filled-in ( including the remaining three coins ) , but there was little of that in what I read . The writing is still good and I may have been impatient to quit after only a third of the book , but I had to move on to something more satisfying .
    • 078 4  A very good novel about Hong Kong . As a native of Hong Kong , it fascinates me . To my knowledge . all the events that took place in this book had happened in Hong Kong or Asia in some ways . I must , however , comment that it is much too long for the layman who is not familiar with Hong Kong or China . This is not a spy novel nor a thriller and I wonder if such a person have the patience or time to go through it . In this day and age of television , this could be a great TV series but such a long and detailed book may not have much appeal . In any case , I must commend James Clavell for producing this book .
    • 079 4  I guess I'll have to be a wet blanket and say - I couldn't finish it . I made it about half-way through and just couldn't keep all the characters straight and trying to understand the international banking and trading was more like a chore than a reading pleasure . I was also tired of listening to all the obscene and elaborate ways the Chinese characters talked about the filthy , dung-eating , uncivilized foreign barbarians - and that's mild compared to most of the racist insults ! And it seems like every single male character , upon seeing Casey for the first time , thought Ah , I would certainly like to possess / bed / pillow that one ! Another complaint : It seems like almost every new advancement in the plot was heralded by a phone call . I was so sick of the phone ringing every other page ! My problem with Ian Dunross : It kept hammering home the point that Dunross had inherited Dirk Straun's animal power and aura of danger , but I never really saw this come through . He seemed like just a typical ambitous businessman and actually a little easy-going a lot of the time . Of course , I didn't finish the book so maybe the aura of danger cropped up later . I was actually rooting for Gornt by the time I stopped reading ; I didn't really get any feeling of loyalty to Straun's - Not like in Tai-Pan where I was cheering for Dirk's side all the way . And yet . . . I gave it two stars because it's not out of the question that I'll give it another try one of these days , maybe when I'm feeling more ambitious .
    • 080 4  I read this book many years ago , and thought it was terrible . Looking through the reviews just now , I couldn't believe how overwhelmingly positive they were , and just had to put in a word for those of us ( and I assume / hope there are others ) who didn't like the book . The book is ludicrously long , and meanders through way too many red herrings , dead ends , and nonsequitirs . There are any number of sub-plots that appear out of nowhwere , go nowhere , never pay off , and leave you wondering why you had to take the time to read through them at all . The sub-plots , though , are nothing like as much of a problem as the main plot itself . It's a very uninspiring story about a business deal . Will person A get the contract , or will person B ? A business deal ? Who cares ? SPOILER ALERT : And then , after sitting through thousands of pages boringly building up to the big deal , at the end one of the characters randomly dies , and the whole thing just peters out . No climax , no drama , nothing . I also respectfully disagree with the reviewers who praised the characters . I found that Clavell has a bad habit of making his characters too perfect , carried out too far in this book . All of the major characters are the greatest golfer and an olympic diver and the greatest gourmet and a brilliant business person and so on and so on . These are not real people , they're supermen who I couldn't relate to at all . It's boring , it's long , it's badly written . I was particularly disappointed because I loved Shogun and liked Tai-pan and King Rat . But after this one , I've never read another Clavell book , and I don't think I will .
    • 082 4  After reading the previous four novels of Clavell's Asian Saga , I was very disappointed in Noble House . Shogun , Tai-Pan , King Rat , and Gai-Jin were absolutely fantastic ; exciting with a lot of action and colorful characters . The characters in Noble House are excellent , but the constant detailed diatribe about the finances of taking over the Noble House was way overdone and constantly repeated . I'm amazed that Clavell wrote this book because all the hashing about money consistently stopped the ACTION of the story . The first thing a writer learns is to keep the action going . I found most of this book as boring as watching paint dry . The plot lines about espionage were good and Clavell should have expanded that story line and cut out the constant rehashing of the bank's problems and Casey's drop dead money . Like , we got the point .
    • 083 4  This book is the best book i ever read , but again this book is not recommended for lower class because it might offend them . But if your in upper class well one must have it .

  • 040 4  This novel is told over a nine day period . In Hong Kong , anything can happen . This story is full of intricate twists and turns . A high action and suspensful thriller which all comes together to a climactic and fullfilling ending . An interesting aspect is how the novel is set up ; the story is told through dialogue , while we , the reader , sit back and listen in . Along with the twenty-fourty main events in the novel , everyday life is described in vivid detail . If you want to walk along with some of the most interesting characters as they make and break life-or-death decisions , then Noble House is DEFINITELY the book for you .
    • 081 4  Not bad , if you like a story about businessmen wheeling and dealing , although a bit long .

  • There is a 1988 TV mini series based on this book - of comparable merit . ( The mini-series used to be available only on VHS , but , as of March 2008 , it is also available on a beautiful DVD edition ) . The major casting was excellent ( having suave Pierce Brosnan and beastly John Rhys-Davies go head-to-head was a stroke of genius ) . Although it run for 6 hours total , it barely scraped the surface of the complex story-lines . Truly beautiful production . Nevertheless , my advice is to first read the book and only THEN watch the TV version .
    • 005 4  This book doesn't have the historical sweep , grandeur and other-worldly feel of SHOGUN , but it is even more densely packed with political and personal machinations , intrigue , pillowing , colorful characters and tension than any of Clavell's other books . I began it with feelings of apprehension , thinking Oh , no , 1400 pages of Hong Kong corporate intrigue . . . how good can THAT be ? Well , it's pretty darn good ! ! ! Yes , there's corporate intrigue , but it's actually kept to a minimum . There are murder mysteries , kidnappings , disasters , sexual intrigue , huge sums of money being thrown around , and lots of detailed glimpses into the psyche of the Chinese , Europeans and just the unique world of Hong Kong in general . If I could have , the book would get 4.5 stars . I have just a couple of problems with it . 1 ) As in TAI PAN and GAI JIN , the end of the book features a major natural disaster which has the effect of sorting out some of the problems the main characters are having . . . it feels like a deux ex machina from a Greek tragedy , especially now that Clavell has done it three times ! 2 ) The ending feels a bit rushed . We've invested 1300 + pages into the book and its interesting characters . . . a richer ending would be in order . ( Although for rushed , unsatisfying endings , you can't beat GAI JIN ! ) That being said , the book is richly rewarding , and frankly , quite amazing . Clavell has successfully juggled perhaps dozens of storylines and scores of characters . The outline for the book alone must have been hundreds of pages . And all of it takes place in the course of one week ! Please , if you haven't read other Clavell books , read them in order ! ! ! They are all great , but to be truly appreciated , they BEG to be read in order : SHOGUN , TAI PAN , GAI JIN , KING RAT , NOBLE HOUSE and WHIRLWIND . All are very rewarding , exciting reads .
    • 012 4  James Clavell was a WONDERFUL Writer ( yes , with a capital W ) and NOBLE HOUSE was a gift he left to us ! Through his eyes we visit Hong Kong in the 1970 ' s . Clavell , like a virtuoso connaisseur of the human condition he is , manages to interweave a multitude of stories into a continuous carpet of a city living fast , taking risks , winning and loosing but never giving up . Heads of huge conglomerates on the verge of foundering - yet never letting go of their rival's throat ; dirt-poor Chinese maids striking it rich by a sudden turn of their joss ; photographer-Wo and his trophy collection ; drug-running smugglers asking for favors-you-can't-refuse ; cold war spy networks riddled with double and triple agents ; an American stock-market runner trying his hand in raiding Hong Kong companies ; ladies getting pillowed , men getting wooed , fortunes made and lost in the 10 days these all take place . Will the Noble House survive ? To quote Balzac , behind every great fortune lies crime . To prove him right , Noble House is but a thinly veiled reference to Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd , a real company . Anticlimactically for an historic British company operating in China , it is nowadays incorporated in Bermuda - and trying to forget its opium-running past ( like so many City of London companies respectable today yet founded on drugs and dead natives ) . All these stories are presented masterfully , without ever loosing the reader's interest or dropping the ball of building tension . There were less than a dozen writers who could do this - starting with Homer . My copy was so worn I had to replace it . HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ! PS : There is a 1988 TV mini series based on this book - of comparable merit . ( The mini-series used to be available only on VHS , but , as of March 2008 , it is also available on a beautiful DVD edition ) . The major casting was excellent ( having suave Pierce Brosnan and beastly John Rhys-Davies go head-to-head was a stroke of genius ) . Although it run for 6 hours total , it barely scraped the surface of the complex story-lines . Truly beautiful production . Nevertheless , my advice is to first read the book and only THEN watch the TV version .
    • 050 4  author had done a lot of hard work in getting information about local phrases and convention of old china well done mr clavell
    • 061 4  if you've only heard of clavell because of the excellent shogun , then you have so far missed out on his greatest work : noble house . the plot is so rich and there is so much humour also that you will wish the book was even longer than it is . you cannot miss this book .

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