Hideous Absinthe: A Story of the Devil in a Bottle Book

I became interested in Absinthe after reading of how it is often blamed for the madness of notable characters such as Van Gogh and also blamed for, or at least being a major contributing factor in the death of Ernest Dowson. Adam's book is a history of the drink, the place it had in society, ranging from being a cure for almost all ills, to being the poison of many, and even the poison of Nations.

Adam's accounts of how Absinthe affected (or in fact, did not) the life and creativity of characters such as Van Gogh, Strindberg, Verlaine, Dowson and Wilde gives a unique insight into the lives of these important artists and writers who would use Absinth to escape from a World where they were often misunderstood.

This journey with the 'green fairy' takes us from the very first mention of Absinthe and Wormwood, and it's use as an almost miracle cure, including a cure for drunkenness(!), through the decades of decadence and excess, war and prohibition to the present day.

A very welcome but unexpected affect this book has had on this reader, is that it really has given a glimpse into the world of some hugely interesting characters from the past that I will now explore.

An outstanding history of "the devil in a bottle".