“Merchants of Deceit: Opium, American Fortune & the China Trade” by Richard J. Friswell is now available for purchase

Citi of Books is proud to announce the publication of the book “Merchants of Deceit: Opium, American Fortune & the China Trade” by Richard J. Friswell. This book is a compelling narrative of Samuel Russell’s adventures in 19th-century China, which offers a captivating glimpse into a little-known chapter of American history. Richard J. Friswell’s “Merchants of Deceit: Opium, American Fortune & the China Trade” is now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other retail sites.

Author and cultural historian, Richard J. Friswell, is a Visiting Scholar at Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT. He writes extensively on topics related to important historical figures and their essential place in American history.

“Opium has a harm. Opium is a poison, undermining our good customs and morality. Its use is prohibited by the law… However, recently the purchasers, eaters and consumers of opium have becowie numerous. Deceitfu1l merchants buy and sell it to gain profit.” -excerpt from the book.

“Merchants of Deceit: Opium, American Fortune & the China Trade” by Richard J. Friswell brings to life the bustling port city of Canton and the intrigues of the China Trade, weaving together a tapestry of ambition, love, betrayal, and tragedy. The memory might fade over the years or be clouded by time, but the collection of horrifying incidents from the past unsettlingly caught up with the author.

Samuel Russell emerges as a protagonist, motivated by ambition and a desire to make a name—and fortune—for himself in the exotic and enigmatic world of nineteenth-century China. He soon discovers the true key to wealth and success is in the opium trade. As he navigates the perilous seas of international commerce and diplomacy, Russell encounters a cast of vividly sketched individuals, ranging from friends and allies to foes and opponents, each with their own objectives and agendas, and secretive settings of the Chinese emperor’s imperial palaces, and into the gritty streets and busy waterways of ancient Canton and the exotic Pearl River.

In this meticulously researched work of historical fiction, the author skillfully detailed history of West’s Thirteen Factories and the bustling waterfront of Canton, immersing readers in the sights, sounds, and smells of this vibrant era in early industrial age global expansion. What sets “Merchants of Deceit: Opium, American Fortune & the China Trade” apart is its attention to historical detail and authenticity. Drawing on the author’s striking, colorful journals and records of his long-ago world travels, he paints a vivid portrait of the past.