'Noble House' fictional companies | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

'Noble House' fictional companies

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Submitted by Compradore on Sun, 2012-03-18 09:26

 I have just re-read James Clavell's masterpiece Noble House.  If any other gwulo members have read the book or seen the miniseries, there are some things I would like to discuss (especially the financial dealing)

First, Struan's is reportedly based on Jardine and Rothwell-Gornt is Butterfield Swire.  What about the other companies mentioned in the novel, who were they based on in reality?  Specifically I am wondering about the following:

  • Asian Properties (Jason Plumm taipan)
  • Hong Kong General Stores (Richard Pugmire)
  • Hong Kong and Lan Tao Farms (Sir Dunstan Barre)
  • Bank of London, Canton and Shanghai (aka Blacs, Compton Southerby)
  • Kowloon Investment (Ian Dunross) - most likely Wharf & Godown?
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Submitted by David on Tue, 2012-03-20 17:12.

The Wikipedia page for Noble House mentions several names for real people that characters & companies were based on:

 FictionBased on
   
CompanyStraun & Co.Jardine Matheson
 Rothwell-Gornt"based on then Butterfield and Swire, now known as Swire Pacific."
 Asian PropertiesHongkong Land
 H. K. General StoresWellcome
   
PersonIan Dunross"believed to be a composite character of two real life Jardine Matheson tai-pans, Sir Hugh Barton and Sir Michael Herries."
 Quillan Gornt"based on two Swire taipans John Kidston 'Jock' Swire and William Charles Goddard Knowles."

Submitted by Compradore on Fri, 2012-03-23 23:31.

Thanks David.  Did not realize there page on wikipedia was that detailed.

Great book though I have never been quite able to comprehend some of the dealings that Quillan Gornt engages in.  The first time I read the book I thought the numbers simply did not add up or make much sense.