Psychedelic Press UK
drugs
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
Drugs and Denial: Society Soaked in Chemicals
Clever little blighters us human beings, very pushy at getting what we want, and now with the skills of science and chemistry, employed in the pursuit of profit, we can make all manner of ‘stuff’; easily and conveniently Use of chemical ‘stuff’ has quietly crept up on us, especially during the last century or two, … Continue reading
Literary Review: ‘Why We Take Drugs’ by Tom Yardley
Originally published in 2012 ‘Why We Take Drugs: Seeking excess and communion in the modern world’ by Tom Yardley is a phenomenological analysis of intoxication. The book takes into account a number of theories to explain the descriptions of drug intoxication given to the author in a series of interviews with users. Yardley is currently … Continue reading
Literary Review: ‘Too Much to Dream’ by Peter Bebergal
Originally published in 2011 ‘Too Much to Dream: A Psychedelic American Boyhood’ by Peter Bebergal is an autobiographical account of the author’s search for a higher spiritual meaning. Bebergal is the co-author of ‘The Faith Between Us’ and has written reviews and articles on culture, religion and science. Too Much to Dream: A Psychedelic American … 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: ‘The Peyote Dance’ by Antonin Artaud
Originally published in France under the title ‘Les Tarahumaras’ (1947), ‘The Peyote Dance’ by Antonin Artaud describes the author’s experiences with Peyote and the Tarahumara in Mexico, in 1936. Written over twelve years and covering Artaud’s stay at a psychiatric hospital in Rodez, the book is an important work of drug literature, so far as … Continue reading
Literary Review: ‘To Live Outside the Law’ by Leaf Fielding
Originally published in 2011 ‘To Live Outside the Law’ by Leaf Fielding is an autobiographical account of his life leading up to, and his involvement with, the distribution of Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in Britain during the 1970s. One of a number of people involved who were caught and sentenced by the infamous Operation Julie, … Continue reading
