The Chemical Muse: Drug Use and the Roots of Western Civilization (First Edition)

Hillman, D. C.A.

ISBN 10: 0312352492 / ISBN 13: 9780312352493

Published by Thomas Dunne Books, 2008

About this Item

Very good condition hardcover. First edition. Very good condition hardcover. Foxing to the top text-block edge. Softened corner tips EU ORDERS OVER EUR 150 REQUIRE AN ADDITIONAL CHARGE TO COVER IMPORT COSTS (GENERALLY 6-15% OF THE ORDER VALUE). WE WILL CONTACT YOU BEFORE ACCEPTING THE ORDER. ORDERS WILL BE REJECTED IF THE ADDITIONAL CHARGE IS NOT ACCEPTED.

Seller Inventory # CHEM-082726-020

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Chemical Muse: Drug Use and the Roots of Western Civilization (First Edition)
• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
• Publication Date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0312352492
• ISBN 13: 9780312352493
• Binding: Hardcover/Hardback
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Good

About this title

Synopsis

“The last wild frontier of classical studies.” ---The Times (UK)
The Chemical Muse uncovers decades of misdirection and obfuscation to reveal the history of widespread drug use in Ancient Rome and Greece. In the city-states that gave birth to Western civilization, drugs were an everyday element of a free society. Often they were not just available, but vitally necessary for use in medicine, religious ceremonies, and war campaigns. Their proponents and users existed in all classes, from the common soldier to the emperor himself.
Citing examples in myths, medicine, and literature, D. C. A. Hillman shows how drugs have influenced and inspired the artists, philosophers, and even politicians whose ideas have formed the basis for civilization as we know it. Many of these ancient texts may seem well-known, but Hillman shows how timid, prudish translations have left scholars and readers in the dark about the reality of drug use in the Classical world. 
Hillman’s argument is not simply “pro-drug.” Instead, he appeals for an intellectual honesty that acknowledges the use of drugs in ancient societies despite today’s conflicting social mores. In the modern world, where academia and university life are often politically charged, The Chemical Muse offers a unique and long overdue perspective on the contentious topic of drug use and the freedom of thought.

About the Author

D. C. A. Hillman earned an M.S. in bacteriology and an M.A. and Ph.D in classics from the University of Wisconsin. His research has been published in the academic journal Pharmacy in History. He lives in Madison, Wisconsin, with his wife and children.