Confessions of an English Opium-Eater: and Other Writings (Oxford World's Classics)

This selection of De Quincey's writings includes the title piece - his most famous work - as well as On the Knocking at the Gate in Macbeth, The English Mail-Coach , and the Suspiria de Profundis . I have often been asked how I first came to be a regular opium-eater, and have suffered, very unjustly, in the opinion of my acquaintance from being reputed to have brought upon myself all the sufferings which I shall have to record, by a long course of indulgence in this practice purely for the sake of creating an artificial state of pleasurable excitement. This, however, is a misrepresentation of my case. True it is that for nearly ten years I did occasionally take opium for the sake of the exquisite pleasure it gave me; but so long as I took it with this view I was effectually protected from all material bad consequences by the necessity of interposing long intervals between the several acts of indulgence, in order to renew the pleasurable sensations. It was not for the purpose of creating pleasure, but of mitigating pain in the severest degree, that I first began to use opium as an article of daily diet. In the twenty-eighth year of my age a most painful affection of the stomach, which I had first experienced about ten years before, attacked me in great strength. This affection had originally been caused by extremities of hunger, suffered in my boyish days. During the season of hope and redundant happiness which succeeded (that is, from eighteen to twenty- four) it had slumbered; for the three following years it had revived at intervals; and now, under unfavourable circumstances, from depression of spirits, it attacked me with a violence that yielded to no remedies but opium. Annotation. This selection of De Quincey's writings includes the title piece--his most famous work--as well as "On the Knocking at the Gate inMacbeth," "The English Mail-Coach," and theSuspiria de Profundis. About the Series:For over 100 yearsOxford World's Classicshas made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more 0192836544......Page 1 CONFESSIONS OF AN ENGLISH OPIUM-EATER:BEING AN EXTRACT FROM THELIFE OF A SCHOLAR......Page 2 PRELIMINARY CONFESSIONS......Page 6 PART II......Page 37 THE PLEASURES OF OPIUM......Page 40 INTRODUCTION TO THE PAINS OF OPIUM......Page 52 THE PAINS OF OPIUM......Page 64 May 1818......Page 75 June 1819......Page 78 APPENDIX......Page 83 FOOTNOTES......Page 92 Oxford University Press, USA 0192836544 1 CONFESSIONS OF AN ENGLISH OPIUM-EATER:BEING AN EXTRACT FROM THELIFE OF A SCHOLAR 2 PRELIMINARY CONFESSIONS 6 PART II 37 THE PLEASURES OF OPIUM 40 INTRODUCTION TO THE PAINS OF OPIUM 52 THE PAINS OF OPIUM 64 May 1818 75 June 1819 78 APPENDIX 83 FOOTNOTES 92 ISBN-13:,9780192836540 ISBN-13: 9780192836540 Confessions Of An English Opium-eater -- On Knocking At The Gate In Macbeth -- Suspiria De Profundis -- The English Mail Coach. Thomas De Quincey ; Edited With An Introduction And Notes By Grevel Lindop. Originally Published In 1985 In The Series World Classics. Includes Bibliographical References (p. Xxvi-xxxi). TO THE READER.-I here present you, courteous reader, with the record of a remarkable period in my life: according to my application of it, I trust that it will prove, not merely an interesting record, but, in a considerable degree, useful and instructive. A selection of tales by Thomas de Quincey that includes the title story and "The English Mail-Coach"