Customer Reviews

The Mystique of Opium

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What a delight THE MYSTIQUE OF OPIUM is! It introduces us to startling new perspectives on opium, as when Nick Tosches states that "When God put His mouth at the nostrils of Adam, there was probably opium on his breath." It tempers its subject by keeping the narrative on two tracks: opium and its blissful appeal, opium and its destructive effects. There's a punning wit to the titles ("Poppy Nose Best") and a stunning clarity to the many visuals that show us the inner historic world of the opium pipe and the opium den. I confess I got hooked, seriously addicted -- I discovered that the subject of opium handled appropriately can stand in for the real thing and weave its magic in the head as surely as if it had been inhaled with the nostrils rather than the eyes. A stunning treatment of a subject best known to many of us, I suspect, at this kind of remove. Highly recommended.

If you've been looking for a coffee table book on opium culture, this volume is just the ticket. The color photos of antique graphics and opium-related instruments and furniture are resplendent.

Unfortunately, the text offers no more than a breezy summary of the vast and intricate lore of this problematic substance. There is also a distinct anti-drug bias ... not surprising considering the nature of the author's other writings.

If you really want to learn about the history and usage of opium, the book to get is OPIUM: A HISTORY by Martin Booth. Peter Lee's OPIUM CULTURE is also very good.

A good book, BUT check out read Peter Lee's "Opium Culture", formerly published as "The Big Smoke" (now available on Amazon) if you want the definitive work on this subject. Peter Lee really knows his stuff and will have you captivated throughout the book!

As a high school teacher of over 35 years, I highly recommend "The Mystique of Opium" for two important attributes: One, it is filled with gems of information which give a full and balanced picture of the drug. Two, it is an excellent example itself of first class teaching. The writing is clear and interesting but never pedantic. The illustrations and pictures are extraordinary. It's a "must" for every teacher.

Some books have substance; some have fascination; some have class. Donald Wigal's The Mystique of Opium, a slim but rich volume, has all three. The cover, stunning in itself, is a promise of things to come. The source of opium, the history of opium, and the culture of opium (which culture generated over the years museum-quality artifacts) are laid out here in a clear, readable style, along with an abundance of superb illustrations. The result is that a book which could have been dryly informational is a page-turner. If you think that opium is an interesting subject, read this book, then think again.
Joseph H. Wessling

It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. It is also said that a well-turned phrase is worth a thousand pictures. Well, with the many beautiful pictures and the many well-turned phrases contained in La Mystique De L'Opium, one would expect a very large and lengthy book. To the contrary (and pleasantly so), however, La Mystique is a compact treat.

The text of the book evidences a depth of knowledge presented in an attractive format. The writing style is concise, clear and witty. The illustrations are carefully woven into the context of the presentation.

Opium is indeed an interesting topic. La Mystique makes for informative reading which is pleasing to the eye and stimulating to the mind. Every coffee table should have a copy - and not just for show!

The color photos of opium pipes and paraphernalia are great. The text reads like it was patched together in an hour - unfocused and uninvolved. Mr. Wigal was not a good choice for this volume. His prefatory dedication is to "colleagues who have been addicted to religion or drugs". Way to show enthusiasm for your subject! The sentiment is understandable, but seems like an odd association with such a book.

His meager text wanders time and again from the point of the book, as if he just could not let himself get involved on any level. Ok, there are some informative sidelines, as his mention of, and still pic from the 1916 silent film "The Dividend", and the reproductions of old prints. But after mentioning that people used to lay down at social gatherings in the East, and describing a little-known painting of a reclining Last Supper (by Hieronymus Wierix) as an example, the relevant illustration shows the familiar sitting-at-table da Vinci!

In short, enjoy the great color photos of spectacular 19th century pipes, lamps, pins, scrapers, trays, etc., as well as the reproduced drawings and posters. But ignore the text and find yourself better, more specialized books to learn about opium history and culture, from the likes of Yangwen Zheng (The Social Life of Opium in China), Nathan Allen (An Essay on the Opium Trade, or Pereira (Elements of Materia Medica vol. 2, which the famous 11th edition of Britannica liberally plagiarized in its article on "Opium").

Then again, with the word "mystique" in the title, we don't expect anything too deep, and indeed it primes us for the superficial. But even as a study of a mystique, the text falls far short. I ordered the book for the pics of interesting opium paraphernalia, not to read about St. Laurent's "Opium" perfume. Perhaps Steven Martin shows a better approach in his "The Art of Opium Antiques". It will be my next Amazon order.

The topic of this compact book--opium--has long been a controversial one, and this new volume is a welcome perspective on the subject. Recommended