Penguin Classics Confessions of an English Opium-Eater: And Other Writings, (Paperback)

from amydross

Witty and erudite, if prone to fits of self-indulgent loquacity. This is the drug confessional that begat a whole genre, but the author is strangely coy about the details of his experiences, both positive and negative.

from HadriantheBlind

This is as much a treat for the prose style as it is for the hallucinatory detail. The edition I received from the library (dating from the 1890s!) is in two parts. The first is the 'Confessions' as shown in the title, and is split into three further parts - a biographical sketch of the author's...

from amydross

Witty and erudite, if prone to fits of self-indulgent loquacity. This is the drug confessional that begat a whole genre, but the author is strangely coy about the details of his experiences, both positive and negative.

from Kplatypus

The ultimate story of drug addiction in the 19th century. Although it claims to be designed to warn readers of the snares of opium use, it still manages to make the habit sound appealing at times. A fun read, and worth digging for.

from AlCracka

"First published in 1821, it paved the way for later generations of literary drug users, from Baudelaire to Burroughs." Whee!While this is maybe not indispensable, it's also not more than 100 pages, so it gets five stars based on its ratio of awesomeness vs. time commitment. And it is pretty awes...