Imperial Purple

Thomas de Quincy
Confessions of an English Opium Eater
First published: 1821
Second edition: 1856
Penguin edition: 1979

Confessions of an English Opium Eater was the most successful work of Thomas de Quincy, English academic and writer. It had a powerful influence at the time as it detailed de Quincy’s experiences with laudanum, a tincture of opium. I’ve never taken the stuff myself so I was interested to get a first-hand narrative.

Well, I was disappointed. Although there are some descriptions of the effects of opium the vast majority is de Quincy expounding on the topic nearest his heart - Thomas de Quincy. Unfortunately, he is not in and of himself very interesting.

If you are interested in his influence as a writer it is worth reading. If you are interested in de Quincy himself it is worth reading. If, however, you are after a good description of the effects of opium, or even the ravings of a drug-ravaged madman, you are out of luck.

One and a half stars only. For me, its fame is unwarranted.