A review by alexandrabree
Confessions of an English Opium Eater by Thomas De Quincey

3.0

Clearly slightly self absorbed, we are given a glimpse into the overall life of our author. The privileges and hardships of his youth and early age that lead him into using opium. Initially for ailments and eventually for pleasure. This is a clearly a romanticization of opium use and poverty in England and the surrounding country. The split between positives and negatives is skewed towards positives and in the writings it seems like Thomas misses his opium use. Although there is a negative opinion expressed of any opium user who is not “of English stock” (pretty typical of the 1800s in a middle class white educated man).

He also mentions how wide spread the use of opium is by everyone from the poor to the rich.