Hashish, Wine, Opium

By Charles Baudelaire

Book Overview

Among the earliest artistic descriptions of the hallucinogenic experience in European literature, the four pieces in this volume document Gautier's and Baudelaire's own involvement in the Club of Assassins, who met under the auspices of Dr Moreau to investigate the mind-enhancing effects of hashish, wine and opium.

As well as providing an absorbing account of nineteenth-century drug use, Hashish, Wine, Opium captures the spirit of French Romanticism in its struggle to free the mind from the shackles of the humdrum and the conventional, and serves as a fascinating prologue to the psychedelic literature of the following century.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1847492878
• ISBN13: 9781847492876
• Release Date: March 2012
• Publisher: Alma Books
• Length: 200 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.1" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

a surprising glimpse

I was surprised at Baudelaire's more conservative views in this book . I had prior considered him to be all for intoxication and inebriation , thus his famous line "Envirez-vous" that he was known for shouting at the top of his lungs when he'd be having absinthe in the Paris cafes ... He especially writes against hashish which he felt warped and distorted peoples' minds . His attitude was certainly influenced by the times he lived in as are some folks' attitudes about similar subjects in current times ... A must for the Baudelaire devotee such as myself .

Worth reading from excellent publisher

A great writer known primarily for his poetry reflect upon addictive substances, their effects, and their dangers. Insightful, timely, and an interesting take, Hesperus continues to publish excellent short unknown translations. Archipelago books does even better with their longer, wider ranging translations, beautifully produced.

Essential Background

Essential background reading for anyone at all interested in Baudelaire - after all, one of his fondest sayings was 'Enivrez-vous!' - 'Get drunk!', and he often celebrated intoxicated states in remarkable style. Although he is not to be side-lined as a writer whose whole scope consists of these intoxicated states - there was a recent biography which put forward the case that his whole significance as a writer was that of a drug-addict - these states do form an integral part of, as it were 'Baudelaire-land', and it is essential to understand them in order to understand Baudelaire as a poet and thinker. Here, in an attractive hesperus volume, we have him writing directly about intoxicated states, in a fascinating insight into the workings of his mind, his time in Paris, and his attitudes towards alcohol and drugs. Well worth buying.

Gastric Memoir

Think of this short piece more as a culinary review than a work of philosophy or fiction or even memoir. Baudelaire speaks to the pros and cons of both Wine and Hashish as well as the impact of both on the body. In addition, he dabbles in satire and social insight, giving the reader a wonderful view of his life, opinions and experiences.

Classic

This is Baud writing about his experiences with Hashish and Wine. It is very poetic and very enjoyable with lots of memorable quotes.Oh Great Hashish!