Historical fiction book · Open Library
The Tao of Poison
Unknown author · historical fiction
The Tao of Poison is a historical novel by Isham Cook set in late eighteenth-century Qing China during the White Lotus Rebellion. It follows Qiezi, a young woman from rural Shaanxi whose long use of datura has made her body toxic, as she flees after the death of a government official and becomes entangled with rebels, healers, nuns, and religious societies. The novel blends picaresque adventure, dark humor, botanical lore, violence, and erotic themes.
About this historical novel
The Tao of Poison by Unknown author is historical fiction rooted in Global / multiple. The Tao of Poison is a historical novel by Isham Cook set in late eighteenth-century Qing China during the White Lotus Rebellion. It follows Qiezi, a young woman from rural Shaanxi whose long use of datura has made her body toxic, as she flees after the death of a government official and becomes entangled with rebels, healers, nuns, and religious societies. The novel blends picaresque adventure, dark humor, botanical lore, violence, and erotic themes.
On HisFic we tag it under 1. Literary historical fiction so you can pair it with similar story types. Recurring themes include historical fiction, literary fiction, adventure fiction, picaresque fiction, and china -- history -- qing dynasty (1644-1912) -- fiction.
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Plot summary
The Tao of Poison is a historical novel by Isham Cook set in late eighteenth-century Qing China during the White Lotus Rebellion. It follows Qiezi, a young woman from rural Shaanxi whose long use of datura has made her body toxic, as she flees after the death of a government official and becomes entangled with rebels, healers, nuns, and religious societies. The novel blends picaresque adventure, dark humor, botanical lore, violence, and erotic themes.
Subgenres
Eras
- Not classified yet
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Regions & places
Global / multiple
Themes
- historical fiction
- literary fiction
- adventure fiction
- picaresque fiction
- china -- history -- qing dynasty (1644-1912) -- fiction
- white lotus rebellion (1796-1804) -- fiction
- shaanxi sheng (china) -- fiction
- hubei sheng (china) -- fiction
Tags
open-library