Psychedelic Press UK
Literary Reviews: 1971-2000
Literary Review: ‘The Alchemy of Culture’ by Richard Rudgley
Originally published in 1993 ‘The Alchemy of Culture: Intoxicants in Society’ by Richard Rudgley examines the cultural use of drugs from across both time and the globe. The book was the winner of the British Museum Press Prometheus Award. Rudgley has written or edited a number of books concerning drugs, including ‘Wildest Dreams: An Anthology … Continue reading
Literary Review: ‘Artificial Paradises’ by Mike Jay [ed.]
Originally published in 1999 ‘Artificial Paradises’ is a collection of passages from across the far-reaching genre of drug literature and was collated and edited by Mike Jay. Jay is one Britain’s leading drug writers and his works include ‘Blue Tide’, ‘Emperors of Dreams’ and, more recently, ‘The Atmosphere of Heaven’ and ‘High Society’. The title … Continue reading
Literary Review: ‘Pleasures and Pains’ by Barry Milligan
‘Pleasures and Pains: Opium and the Orient in Nineteenth-Century British Culture’ (1995) by Barry Milligan utilises a multidisciplinary approach, including psychology, literary criticism, history and psychology, in order to examine the relationship between Britain and the Orient. Broadly speaking a work of cultural studies, the book concentrates on the trade of goods and ideas as … Continue reading
Literary Review: ‘Psychedelia Britannica’ by Antonio Melechi [ed.]
Originally published in 1997 ‘Psychedelia Britannica’ is a collection of essays dealing with the cultural history of psychedelics in Britain, edited by Antonio Melechi. The book looks at psychedelic drugs through the context of literature, music, psychiatry and the counterculture and includes a number of prominent individuals like Ronald Sandison and Alexander Trocchi, with a … Continue reading
Literary Review: ‘Drugtakers in an English Town’ by Martin A. Plant
Originally published in 1975 ‘Drugtakers in an English Town’ by Martin A. Plant is the result of the author’s PhD thesis, prepared for what was the Department of Social Administration and Social Work, at the University of Bristol. Martin Plant (1946-2010), 29 at the time of publication, went on to become a leading expert in … Continue reading
Literary Review: ‘On Drugs’ by David Lenson
Originally published in 1995 ‘On Drugs’ by David Lenson is a fascinating and enlightening pharmacography on the cultural reception of drugs from the point-of-view of the user. The author had previously published works that included ‘Achilles’ Choice’ (1975) and ‘The Birth of Tragedy: A Commentary’ (1987) and was Professor of Comparative Literature at the University … Continue reading
Literary Review: ‘Psychedelic Shamanism’ by Jim DeKorne
Originally published in 1994 ‘Psychedelic Shamanism’ by Jim DeKorne grew into something of an ‘underground classic’. The updated edition, from which this review has been written, was published in 2011 and follows the publication of the book’s sequel ‘The Cracking Tower’ in 2009. DeKorne was the editor of ‘The Entheogen Review’ between 1992 – 1997. … Continue reading
Literary Review: ‘The Man who Turned on the World’ by Michael Hollingshead
Originally published in 1973 ‘The Man who Turned on the World’ by Michael Hollingshead recounts the author’s involvement in the psychedelic movement of the 1960s. Having been told by Aldous Huxley to talk with Timothy Leary, and having subsequently given Leary his first LSD trip, Hollingshead’s notoriety was assured. The book is a fascinating landscape … Continue reading
Literary Review: ‘Pharmako/Poeia’ by Dale Pendell
Dale Pendell’s ‘Pharmako/Poeia – Power Plants, Poisons & Herbcraft’ was originally published in 1995. This review is written from the updated 2010 North Atlantic edition. Pendell is an author and poet whose written works include ‘Inspired Madness: The Gifts of Burning Man’ (2006) and ‘Living with Barbarians: A few Plant Poems’ (1999), as well as … Continue reading
Literary Review: ‘Realms of the Human Unconscious’ by Stanislav Grof
‘Realms of the Human Unconscious – Observations from LSD Research’ by Stanislav Grof has recently (2010) been republished by Souvenir Press, having originally been published in 1975. Stanislav Grof spent 17 years researching LSD and other hallucinogenic drugs between 1955 and 1972 in a psychotherapy context. He began his research in Czechoslovakia but later moved … Continue reading
