Psychedelic prophets : the letters of Aldous Huxley and Humphry Osmond / edited by Cynthia Carson Bisbee [and four others].

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Bisbee, Cynthia Carson, editor.

Bisbee, Paul, 1945- editor.

Dyck, Erika, editor.

Farrell, Patrick, 1978- editor.

Sexton, James, editor.

Spisak, James W., editor.

Series:

McGill-Queen's/Associated Medical Services studies in the history of medicine, health, and society ; 48.

McGill-Queen's/Associated Medical Services studies in the history of medicine, health, and society ; 48

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Huxley, Aldous, 1894-1963--Correspondence.

Huxley, Aldous.

Osmond, Humphry--Correspondence.

Osmond, Humphry.

Authors, English--20th century--Correspondence.

Authors, English.

Psychiatrists--Saskatchewan--Correspondence.

Psychiatrists.

Hallucinogenic drugs--Therapeutic use.

Hallucinogenic drugs.

LSD (Drug)--Therapeutic use.

LSD (Drug).

Schizophrenia--Treatment.

Schizophrenia.

Mental illness--Treatment.

Mental illness.

Genre:

Personal correspondence.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (lxxix, 644 pages) : illustrations, portraits, facsimiles

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Montreal : McGill-Queen's University Press, 2018.

Summary:

Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) was the author of nearly fifty books and numerous essays, best known for his dystopian novel Brave New World. Humphry Osmond (1917–2004) was a British-trained psychiatrist interested in the biological nature of mental illness and the potential for psychedelic drugs to treat psychoses, especially schizophrenia. In 1953, Huxley sent an appreciative note to Osmond about an article he and a colleague had published on their experiments with mescaline, which inspired an initial meeting and decade-long correspondence. This critical edition provides the complete Huxley-Osmond correspondence, chronicling an exchange between two brilliant thinkers who explored such subjects as psychedelics, the visionary experience, the nature of mind, human potentialities, schizophrenia, death and dying, Indigenous rituals and consciousness, socialism, capitalism, totalitarianism, power and authority, and human evolution. There are references to mutual friends, colleagues, and eminent figures of the day, as well as details about both men's personal lives. The letters bear witness to the development of mind-altering drugs aimed at discovering the mechanisms of mental illness and eventually its treatment. A detailed introduction situates the letters in their historical, social, and literary context, explores how Huxley and Osmond first coined the term "psychedelic," contextualizes their work in mid-century psychiatry, and reflects on their legacy as contributors to the science of mind-altering substances. Psychedelic Prophets is an extraordinary record of a full correspondence between two leading minds and a testament to friendship, intellectualism, empathy, and tolerance. The fact that these sentiments emerge so clearly from the letters, at a historical moment best known for polarizing ideological conflict, threats of nuclear war, and the rise of post-modernism, reveals much about the personalities of the authors and the persistence of these themes today.Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) was the author of nearly fifty books and numerous essays, best known for his dystopian novel Brave New World. Humphry Osmond (1917–2004) was a British-trained psychiatrist interested in the biological nature of mental illness and the potential for psychedelic drugs to treat psychoses, especially schizophrenia. In 1953, Huxley sent an appreciative note to Osmond about an article he and a colleague had published on their experiments with mescaline, which inspired an initial meeting and decade-long correspondence. This critical edition provides the complete Huxley-Osmond correspondence, chronicling an exchange between two brilliant thinkers who explored such subjects as psychedelics, the visionary experience, the nature of mind, human potentialities, schizophrenia, death and dying, Indigenous rituals and consciousness, socialism, capitalism, totalitarianism, power and authority, and human evolution. There are references to mutual friends, colleagues, and eminent figures of the day, as well as details about both men's personal lives. The letters bear witness to the development of mind-altering drugs aimed at discovering the mechanisms of mental illness and eventually its treatment. A detailed introduction situates the letters in their historical, social, and literary context, explores how Huxley and Osmond first coined the term "psychedelic," contextualizes their work in mid-century psychiatry, and reflects on their legacy as contributors to the science of mind-altering substances. Psychedelic Prophets is an extraordinary record of a full correspondence between two leading minds and a testament to friendship, intellectualism, empathy, and tolerance. The fact that these sentiments emerge so clearly from the letters, at a historical moment best known for polarizing ideological conflict, threats of nuclear war, and the rise of post-modernism, reveals much about the personalities of the authors and the persistence of these themes today.

Contents:

Cover; PSYCHEDELIC PROPHETS; Title; Copyright; Contents; Preface; Acknowledgments; Illustrations; Introduction; Editors' Note; 1953; 1954; 1955; 1956; 1957; 1958; 1959; 1960; 1961; 1962; 1963; Epilogue; Note on the Appendices; Appendix 1: Letters between Humphry Osmond and Maria Huxley, 1953-1955; Appendix 2: LSD Experience of 7 November 1956: Letters between Humphry Osmond and Matthew, Ellen, and Francis Huxley; Appendix 3: Aldous Huxley's Account of Maria Huxley's Last Days, ca. 15 February 1955; Appendix 4: Humphry Osmond's Statement on Peyote, 5 November 1955; Bibliography

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index

Description based on print version record.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Contains:

Huxley, Aldous, 1894-1963. Correspondence. Selections

Osmond, Humphry. Correspondence. Selections.

ISBN:

0-7735-5603-6

0-7735-5602-8

OCLC:

1059577203