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misspinkfairy's review against another edition
4.0
goofy silly time, i highly recommend for academics
van_essa's review against another edition
1.75
It feels weird to rate this cause I reckon it’s more important as a historical moment (the start of western addiction literature) than as a book in itself.
It doesn’t help that De Quincy is obsessed with the most boring irrelevant details it’s such a slog. He would think a trip to the DMV was worth writing about (with at least 4 Greek references and an aside about Wordsworth). I think it’s my fault for reading the 1850s revision which has a much expanded first section but the fact so little if this book is actually about opium is lowkey hilarious. More than two thirds of this book is preamble to opium experiences. He’s hyping opium dreams up for 240 pages and then spends 10 pages describing them.
The sections describing opium experience are worth reading though, there’s a surprising about of humour to them even through the obnoxious self obsession. You can tell De Quincy still loves his opium lol
It doesn’t help that De Quincy is obsessed with the most boring irrelevant details it’s such a slog. He would think a trip to the DMV was worth writing about (with at least 4 Greek references and an aside about Wordsworth). I think it’s my fault for reading the 1850s revision which has a much expanded first section but the fact so little if this book is actually about opium is lowkey hilarious. More than two thirds of this book is preamble to opium experiences. He’s hyping opium dreams up for 240 pages and then spends 10 pages describing them.
The sections describing opium experience are worth reading though, there’s a surprising about of humour to them even through the obnoxious self obsession. You can tell De Quincy still loves his opium lol
1and8pence2much's review against another edition
3.0
This was, weirdly enough, the first work of “classic literature” that I have ever read (though, I must say I understand why this was my choice: who would not be interested in reading a book about a man in the early nineteenth century taking opium?) I can well remember bombarding my friends with various specific details about Thomas de Quincey’s life for days after first reading it (a particular favourite of mine to discuss is an extract from the revised edition from 1856, where de Quincey described himself crossing a river (on which there was a tidal wave; an ordinary occurrence in Wales? I do not think so!), complete with a meticulous description of the exact place near the river in which he was standing and two Greek mythology references: in only one and a half pages!)
The book’s contents fall into amusing (de Quincey’s near-failed attempt to carry his baggage through his headmaster’s house upon leaving), miserable (his times spent in a lodging on Oxford Street) and downright concerning (de Quincey’s wonderings concerning the question: “if I keep dreaming of lakes, might I have oedema?”) The book, being written by a person who was well aware of the fact that he was writing a popular account that would be a first in Western literature, is completely unreliable as a genuine source on opium use (which, to me, makes it even better) though, if one is researching drug use in media, this will prove to be extremely interesting (there is a lengthy part in one of the book’s appendices where De Quincey thoroughly criticised the portrayal of opium use in another work or literature, “Anastasius”, supposedly, as I assume, written by an author never having taken opium. Though concerning other works, such discussions still persist two centuries on, which is very interesting to me!) Other than that, it well embodies what some would typically imagine a stereotypical nineteenth century text to be like: that is, the beginning of the section titled “The Pains of Opium” reeks painfully of orientalism and there are several sentences that last well over half a page.
Although it is not the most enjoyable reading to me now, I am somewhat glad I know it exists (and have an author to blame for myself writing sentences that run on for a third of a page). Is it something I would recommend to everyone and anyone? No. Does it successfully fill the part of my brain scavenging for odd and unusual literature-related information? It sure does!
The book’s contents fall into amusing (de Quincey’s near-failed attempt to carry his baggage through his headmaster’s house upon leaving), miserable (his times spent in a lodging on Oxford Street) and downright concerning (de Quincey’s wonderings concerning the question: “if I keep dreaming of lakes, might I have oedema?”) The book, being written by a person who was well aware of the fact that he was writing a popular account that would be a first in Western literature, is completely unreliable as a genuine source on opium use (which, to me, makes it even better) though, if one is researching drug use in media, this will prove to be extremely interesting (there is a lengthy part in one of the book’s appendices where De Quincey thoroughly criticised the portrayal of opium use in another work or literature, “Anastasius”, supposedly, as I assume, written by an author never having taken opium. Though concerning other works, such discussions still persist two centuries on, which is very interesting to me!) Other than that, it well embodies what some would typically imagine a stereotypical nineteenth century text to be like: that is, the beginning of the section titled “The Pains of Opium” reeks painfully of orientalism and there are several sentences that last well over half a page.
Although it is not the most enjoyable reading to me now, I am somewhat glad I know it exists (and have an author to blame for myself writing sentences that run on for a third of a page). Is it something I would recommend to everyone and anyone? No. Does it successfully fill the part of my brain scavenging for odd and unusual literature-related information? It sure does!
iillianne's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Def worth the read for anyone who is questioning their relationship w their own vices. & for any history nerds lol
spectracommunist's review against another edition
3.0
Penguin Great Ideas: 7/100, Series Four: 1/10
The part which I felt captivating and interesting was the Pains of Opium as the last sections. Most of this book is filled with English Gossips and Victorian babbling with greek quotes. What I expected was either some kind of spirituality on one end or the loathing of the other end but that was so lacking and incoherent. It's like a newspaper article and was actually made for that, there are events and facts and less to ponder about.
The part which I felt captivating and interesting was the Pains of Opium as the last sections. Most of this book is filled with English Gossips and Victorian babbling with greek quotes. What I expected was either some kind of spirituality on one end or the loathing of the other end but that was so lacking and incoherent. It's like a newspaper article and was actually made for that, there are events and facts and less to ponder about.
snarf137's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Quite a gorgeous and macabre glimpse into the mind of a drug addict, with astute psychological self-reflection, biblically proportioned hallucinatinos, and descriptions of 19th c. English society that would make a sociologist drool. One can't help but pity de Quincey while simultaneously be frustrated by his stubbornness. The writing, of course, was beautiful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse and Drug use
smartinez9's review against another edition
4.0
Five stars for being fascinating and written like nothing else, but the orientalism is w i l d
ruby03's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.5