Noble HouseNoble House
Score Classic
What it's about
In June 1963, Ian Dunross is the taipan, or chief, of Struan's, the oldest and most powerful trading company in Hong Kong, known as the Noble House. Over ten days, he fights to save the company from a takeover by rivals, a run on the banks, a pair of American raiders, a stock market crash, Soviet spies, and a disastrous landslide and fire. James Clavell's novel follows dozens of characters across a city of money, intrigue and danger.
Why it's worth reading
It spent months at #1 on the New York Times list. It's one of the great page-turners of its era, part of Clavell's Asian Saga, along with Shogun.
You'll love it if you liked
Good to know
It's around 1,200 pages, with a huge cast. It can be read on its own, though it follows the Struan family from earlier books.
By the numbers
- Readers89 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller58 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #43 of the 116 historical novels we rank
- #146 of the 762 classics we rank
- #456 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Moving
More by James Clavell
If you like this, read next
The Color Purple
Lonesome Dove
Pride and Prejudice
I, Claudius
The Pillars of the Earth
One Hundred Years of SolitudeExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Noble House worth reading?
Yes. It spent months at #1 on the New York Times list. It ranks #456 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 79.1 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Noble House about?
In June 1963, Ian Dunross is the taipan, or chief, of Struan's, the oldest and most powerful trading company in Hong Kong, known as the Noble House. Over ten days, he fights to save the company from a takeover by rivals, a run on the banks, a pair of American raiders, a stock market crash, Soviet spies, and a disastrous landslide and fire. James Clavell's novel follows dozens of characters across a city of money, intrigue and danger.
How long does it take to read Noble House?
About 32 hours (1284 pages), or about 9 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Noble House?
If you liked it, try Shōgun by James Clavell, The Source by James Michener or Patriot Games by Tom Clancy.