Opium: A History

Known to mankind since prehistoric times, opium is arguably the oldest and most widely used narcotic. Opium: A History traces the drug's astounding impact on world culture-from its religious use by prehistoric peoples to its influence on the imaginations of the Romantic writers; from the earliest medical science to the Sino-British opium wars. And, in the present day, as the addict population rises and penetrates every walk of life, Opium shows how the international multibillion-dollar heroin industry operates with terrifying efficiency and forms an integral part of the world's money markets.

In this first full-length history of opium, acclaimed author Martin Booth uncovers the multifaceted nature of this remarkable narcotic and the bittersweet effects of a simple poppy with a deadly legacy.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: St. Martins Press-3PL
Published: 09/05/2000
ISBN: 9780312206673
Pages: 400
Weight: 1.10lbs
Size: 8.40h x 5.40w x 1.10d

Review Citations: Ingram Advance 06/01/1999 pg. 121
New York Times 08/08/1999 pg. 24
Publishers Weekly 08/30/1999 pg. 46