The mystique of opium : in history and art / Donald Wigal.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Wigal, Donald, 1933-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Opium--History.

Opium.

Opium trade--History.

Opium trade.

Opium abuse--History.

Opium abuse.

History.

Physical Description:

96 pages : illustrations (chiefly color) ; 23 cm

Other Title:

Opium

Place of Publication:

New York : Parkstone, 2004.

Summary:

Whilst the 20th century was one long war for control of the world's oil supplies, opium was a key strategic raw material during the four preceding centuries. Opium consumption dates back to Ancient Egypt. Initially a useful pharmaceutical product called laudanum, it quickly became popular in Britain. It then became the basis for trade with isolationist China as soon as the Opium Wars obtained trading rights for Western companies and the Chinese began smoking it in industrial quantities. This book offers a tastefully illustrated history of this toxic substance, its paraphernalia and era.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 93-95) and index.

ISBN:

1859959156

OCLC:

52566428