Reading When we were orphans

I am currently reading Kazuo Ishiguro's When we are orphans. Why do I read Japanese author? First of all I do not know about contemporary English authors. Second, how long can one read the same Maughms and Greens and Huxleys. And another fact is reading Chinese and Japanese authors is more pleasant because we can relate to their mindsets and surroundings , unlike British an American authors. If so, why don't I read directly Indian authors? Well some questions should not be asked.

This book is about an English detective Christopher whose early childhood was spent in China. They were living luxurious life completely alienated from locals. An inspector who comes on regular checkup comments that chinese servants are not to be trusted because they are opium addicts. That infuriates Christopher's mother so much. She  was fighting against British opium traders and father was himself an opium businessman.

That got me curious about the opium trade in China during that period. And encyclopedia
told me that first and second opium wars were fought between China and Britain, at the end of which China was completely defeated and had to open all trades with England, France and Russia. And could do nothing about the increasing opium trade by Europeans and addiction of Chinese. And the interesting part is, this opium was brought to China from India. East India company used to get large benefit by growing opium in India and selling it in China. Why did we never read about it in any History books so far? Why do no Indian books mention about it?

Anyway it reinforced my belief that English, not the language, but the people, had built their empire in most unethical ways.