Opium and Empire

A close look at two controversial Scottish capitalists engaged in the opium trade.

Richard J. Grace is professor of history at Providence College.Richard J. Grace is professor of history at Providence College.

“Richard Grace has produced a well-structured and readable book which approaches the so-called Opium War from a refreshingly new angle, exploring the growing tensions on the China coast through the perspectives of the two men who established themselves as

“Opium and Empire is a fine book that should command scholarly interest. It is crisply written, absorbing, and Grace successfully challenges prevailing interpretations of Jardine and Matheson. Far from their caricature-like portrayals as ‘sinophobe warmon

“A painstakingly researched and illuminating study of the two men who put together the soon thriving commercial concern that still bears their names.” Northern Scotland

"A comprehensive and engaging chronicle." Wall Street Journal

"A riotously entertaining book." John Sandoe [Books] Ltd. London

“Richard Grace has produced a well-structured and readable book which approaches the so-called Opium War from a refreshingly new angle, exploring the growing tensions on the China coast through the perspectives of the two men who established themselves as the dominant merchants there … Whether Grace’s conclusions will settle historical debate about the driving force for war remains to be seen, but this study will be a point of scholarly reference for many years to come.” English Historical Review

“Opium and Empire is a fine book that should command scholarly interest. It is crisply written, absorbing, and Grace successfully challenges prevailing interpretations of Jardine and Matheson. Far from their caricature-like portrayals as ‘sinophobe warmongers’ and ‘drug lords’, the book reveals the partners’ complex, multifaceted characters.” Journal of Scottish Historical Studies