Confessions of an English Opium-Eater

Written in 1821, 'Confessions of an English Opium-Eater' brought literary fame and not a little notoriety to Thomas de Quincy. It blew the lid on widespread opium addiction in Regency England, 'outing' such worthies as Dr Abernethy, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wilberforce. 'Confessions' recounts the author's privileged public school days, his defiant truancy which led ultimately to a life of penury in London and to his rescue by, and romance with, a young prostitute. It is an intensely personal portrayal of narcotic dependence, filled with humanity, humour and beautiful prose. This classic work is essential reading for all those interested in the history and psychology of drug use, and its part in helping to open 'the doors of perception'.