Publication
Hesperus Press (2010), Paperback, 112 pages
Physical description
112 p.; 7.5 inches
ISBN
1843916088 / 9781843916086
Language
Collections
Description
Initially composed for newspaper publication and inspired by Thomas De Quincey's Confessions of an Opium Eater, Baudelaire's musings on wine and hashish provide acute - and fascinating - psychological insight into the mind of the addict.
Genres
User reviews
LibraryThing member Eric73
As a native french speaker, I always have read french authors in the original language and I was very intrigued as how the wonderful words of Baudelaire would sound like when translated in english.
Well... I'm not convinced. The translation is of high quality but it never approaches the magic of
Well... I'm not convinced. The translation is of high quality but it never approaches the magic of
Show More
the original words. But I'm pretty sure every english speaker who would end up reading Poe, Blake or Bukowski in french would say the same and I couldn't agree more with them. Show Less
LibraryThing member jazznoir
In his slim book of observations, Charles Baudelaire examines at length the "Artificial Ideals" that wine and hashish have on the soul, body and mind.
The edition published by Hesperus Press (publishers of numerous "ranters extraordinaire") belongs on the same library shelf as De Quincey, William S.
The "Wine" chapter reveals Baudelaire's high praise for the grape. He compares wine to a religious experience by proclaiming "it is the hope of Sundays." He muses about the poetic strength and intense pleasures which can be had with drink. One sip and you're in high spirits interacting with mankind and becoming entangled in the web of humanity.
By contrast, Baudelaire begs the reader to stay away from hashish.
What is bewildering with the remaining hashish chapters is, as he warns of the slow suicide from "the demon that is invading you," he continues to write a most scholarly instruction manual on how to prepare the "green jelly." His scrutiny of the drug is hampered by his alluring description of its influence.
One moment the book reads as a Philosophy book of the human spirit exploring the mysterious maladies of the soul, and the next it reads as a text book repeating (sometimes verbatim) several scenarios from previous chapters.
Though well written with poetic insight, the slim volume quickly becomes repetitive, leaving one to wonder if perhaps Baudelaire should have put down the pipe himself.
The edition published by Hesperus Press (publishers of numerous "ranters extraordinaire") belongs on the same library shelf as De Quincey, William S.
Show More
Burroughs and perhaps even Henry Miller. It is Baudelaire's enthusiasm of the "genius which comes from drink" which reads most like Miller.The "Wine" chapter reveals Baudelaire's high praise for the grape. He compares wine to a religious experience by proclaiming "it is the hope of Sundays." He muses about the poetic strength and intense pleasures which can be had with drink. One sip and you're in high spirits interacting with mankind and becoming entangled in the web of humanity.
By contrast, Baudelaire begs the reader to stay away from hashish.
What is bewildering with the remaining hashish chapters is, as he warns of the slow suicide from "the demon that is invading you," he continues to write a most scholarly instruction manual on how to prepare the "green jelly." His scrutiny of the drug is hampered by his alluring description of its influence.
One moment the book reads as a Philosophy book of the human spirit exploring the mysterious maladies of the soul, and the next it reads as a text book repeating (sometimes verbatim) several scenarios from previous chapters.
Though well written with poetic insight, the slim volume quickly becomes repetitive, leaving one to wonder if perhaps Baudelaire should have put down the pipe himself.
Show Less
LibraryThing member arkandco
The other reviews below do a good job summarizing and commenting on this book, so I will limit myself to just a few observations and comments. Frankly, I was attracted to this small volume (truly a beautiful production) by its title (classic) and my interest in books about wine and alcohol. In
There are some wonderful aphorisms in this essay: “A man who drinks only water has a secret to hide from his fellow men.” “Work makes weekdays prosperous, wine makes Sundays happy.” “Wine elevates the will, hashish annihilates it.”
Finally, I note that Baudelaire refers to wine generically. Today of course, any such essay on wine would invariably contain extended discussions and descriptions of particular producers, vintages, terroir, tastings, bottles and the memorable meals that accompanied the wine. In this essay, at least, for Baudelaire (and likely for most of his countrymen in 1851) wine is a generic commodity, although one that develops man’s poetic character without (unlike its rival) robbing him of his will and sociability.
Show More
simple terms, Baudelaire (writing in 1851) wants us to believe that wine is good, hashish is dangerous; though his efforts to describe the “absolute bliss” produced by hashish are oddly alluring and compelling. But when he looks at the relative effects of the two stimulants on their users, he extols the wholesome, humane benefits of wine while damning the hypnotic, life-destroying qualities of hashish. In reading the essay, I was reminded of the famous William Hogarth prints (from 1751), Beer Street (good) and Gin Lane (evil), created by Hogarth in support of the Gin Act.There are some wonderful aphorisms in this essay: “A man who drinks only water has a secret to hide from his fellow men.” “Work makes weekdays prosperous, wine makes Sundays happy.” “Wine elevates the will, hashish annihilates it.”
Finally, I note that Baudelaire refers to wine generically. Today of course, any such essay on wine would invariably contain extended discussions and descriptions of particular producers, vintages, terroir, tastings, bottles and the memorable meals that accompanied the wine. In this essay, at least, for Baudelaire (and likely for most of his countrymen in 1851) wine is a generic commodity, although one that develops man’s poetic character without (unlike its rival) robbing him of his will and sociability.
Show Less
LibraryThing member iruzadnal
A lovely little volume of essays that I'd heard about but never read. I'm not a French speaker, so can't attest to the quality of the translation, but I do know what appeals to me about Baudelaire's writing, and this one brings it beautifully. Descriptions of intoxication and its aftereffects are
Can;t say enough about the design and presentation of this book. There are a number of other titles in Hesperus's series, and this one definitely makes me want to see others.
Show More
typically lush and minutely detailed. There is a monitory quality to some of the content, as though Baudelaire, while following "le dérèglement de tous les sens" to its fullest extent, tries to legitimize his personal explorations by treating them journalistically in a 19th century version of "kids, don't try this at home." That these essays were written for money is a factor in this presentation, and probably relates to his lifelong production style of inspiration versus hard work. It's hard to balance the two when your research methods conflict with your output method. Even the flyleaf of this edition makes reference to "the phoney exotica of excess" (the original French title: Les paradis artificiels) as if to justify intoxication in pursuit of enlightenment. But that's really what this book is about, and it doesn't lessen the art for its association with commerce. Can;t say enough about the design and presentation of this book. There are a number of other titles in Hesperus's series, and this one definitely makes me want to see others.
Show Less
LibraryThing member davidw
Another beautiful little book from Hesperus Press. Again, the other reviews have covered this book far better than I could ever hope to, so all I can add are my own thoughts- fairly interesting, but even though it's rather short at 90-odd pages, it did drag slightly.
Original publication date
1851, 1860