Set in the turbulent middle decades of the nineteenth century, this saga is the story of Justin Savage, the handsome, illegitimate son of one of New York's leading shipping magnates.Signing on to one of his father's clipper ships as a cabin boy at the age of twelve, Justin has no idea that he is marked for murder by his hated half brother, Sylvaner. Justin is saved by Samantha Aspinal, the beautiful daughter of a missionary and they fall passionately in love. But when the ship is attacked by pirates, Justin is captured by the sensuously irresistible Madame Ching, who takes him to China as her slave. Justin's adventures include a gallery of unforgettable characters: Sylvaner, who will stop at nothing to destroy his half brother; Madame Ching, who is struggling against the ancient Chinese culture that treats women as nonpersons; Fiammetta, the beautiful, lusty Italian countess who falls passionately in love with Justin; and the Taiping warrior Li-shan, who shares Justin's love for Madame Ching and Fiametta.